AFTER 15 years of helping to form the Congress of the People (COPE), Dennis Bloem has called it quits.
The ongoing internal battles are the reason why the longstanding member and spokesperson decided to leave the party.
Bloem announced his resignation from the party on Friday, 25 August.
COPE has been marred by infightings and divisions, which led to its two top members being kicked out of the party.
Bloem attributed his resignation, to the expulsions of former Deputy President Willie Madisha and Elections Secretary, Mzwandile Hleko.
He said those expulsions were unlawful, including the removal of Madisha as a member of Parliament.
Bloem said deciding to leave the party was not an easy one to make but he had to do it.
“It was not an easy decision for me to take. It was difficult but it had to happen that I resign. I could not take it anymore.
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“This thing of the Deputy President Madisha and comrade Hleko being expelled from the Congress of the People is a very big influence in my decision to resign,” he said.
He said Madisha is an older member of the party and Hleko is the founding member so he could not sit and accept this type of thing happening to his comrades.
Bloem also criticised the party's leader, Mosioua Lekota for the demise of COPE.
He said Lekota transformed the party into a laughingstock by prioritising internal power struggles and stomach politics over meaningful political engagement.
He further said although he is leaving COPE, he is not leaving politics and he will continue to address social issues affecting the country.
