CHAOS and fists were the order of the day during a Congress of the People (Cope) media briefing on Wednesday, 31 August.
Unidentified people who called themselves Cope members came in and interrupted a live TV address by party president Mosioua Lekota. The men claimed that Lekota had no right to address any Cope briefing as he was suspended.
During the scuffle, the men can be heard screaming at Lekota: “We see what you are trying to do! You are trying to divide the party!”
Takalane Raidani, who claimed to be representing the youth movement of the party, said if the media wanted to interview Lekota they must speak to him in his personal capacity.
Cope’s troubles came to light on Monday after deputy president Willie Madisha announced that they had suspended Lekota for allegedly causing division in the party.
But Lekota said Madisha, spokesman Dennis Bloem and elections secretary Mzwandile Hleko were actually the ones who have been suspended by the Congress National Committee.
Lekota was joined by national chairman Teboho Loate, acting general secretary Eric Mohlapamaswi and other elected Congress National Committee members.
Talking about his suspension, Lekota said he couldn’t be suspended by three individuals. He said only the Congress National Committee had the authority to do that. Lekota said he was prepared to continue serving as president until his term was up but if members decided otherwise, he was prepared to vacate his seat.
He said he was not frail as Madisha and Bloem had said when announcing his so-called suspension. “This is a thing that’s been spread by comrade Madisha. I’m sorry, I’m not going to the grave,” he said.
Mohlapamaswi said their members had expressed their anxieties and frustrations at the state of the party.
He said the party was shocked by Madisha’s behaviour, particularly since Lekota recently underwent a medical procedure.
“The unrestrained ambition and opportunism was just jaw-dropping,” he said.
Mohlapamaswi said the committee would support Lekota until the next elective congress. He also said the media spectacle by Bloem was to express his opinion, it was not the view of the committee.
