Johnathan Paoli
Cope has officially fired Colleen Makhubele, following claims by the party that the Joburg Council Speaker lied about the organisation being part of the South African Rainbow Alliance (SARA), their representatives said at a media briefing in Kempton Park where they also announced the party’s registration campaign.
The party’s SG Eric Mohlapamaswi, said Makhubele, ignored party lines by centering herself on posters and making inappropriate suggestions of being the leader of the party guiding Cope to a new alliance.
“A councillor in the Johannesburg municipality has her name on the posters. As such, she has terminated her own membership,” Mohlapamaswi said.
Cope leader Terror Lekota said while the party has considered being part of the alliance, it did not give Makhubele the necessary permission to sign the party into an alliance.
Makhubele was elected as the City Council Speaker last year having previously served the council for seven months as the Chair of Chairs and as the Deputy Speaker.
SARA is a voting bloc chaired by Makhubele which includes a number of small parties such as the NFP, AARM, ICM and churches.
The party is expected to replace Makhubele with another candidate as she will no longer serve as Joburg Council Speaker.
The SG said that under section 19(3) of the Cope Constitution, any member who joins another organisation or alliance without prior consent from the party leadership structure would be liable for immediate termination.
In addition, a councillor from Tshwane has also been dismissed after claiming to be a chairperson of SARA.
INSIDE METROS
