THE media briefing and the press statement by Willie Madisha of the Congress of the People (Cope) was a hasty and desperate attempt to save his own skin.
This was said in a statement by Cope’s national chairman, Teboho Loate, speaking about the actions of the party’s deputy president, Madisha.
Loate said Madisha was not only trying to save himself, but also people in his group who are trying to confuse the public by spreading false information.
This comes after Madisha and the party’s spokesman Dennis Bloem announced on Monday, 29 August, that they have on behalf of Cope suspended the party’s president Mosiuoa Lekota for, among other things, causing divisions in the party.
According to Loate, Lekota is active and competent to lead the party and serve as its leader in parliament. He said Lekota has the confidence and full support of the Congress National Committee (CNC) as reaffirmed by their meeting on 20 August.
Loate said any dreams that Madisha and his group have must be dismissed.
“The facts of the matter are that three leaders in the CNC have, for some time, been engaged in conduct that is unconstitutional, ambitious, and irrational,” said Loate.
He said the three are Madisha, Bloem and secretary for elections Mzwandile Hleko.
“At a constitutionally convened meeting of the CNC held on 20 August, it was resolved to suspend with immediate effect all three of them pending compliance with the code of conduct and disciplinary procedures of the party,” said Loate.
Loate said the three received letters of suspension from the acting general-secretary on Friday, 26 August.
He said the media briefing by Madisha and Bloem was an irrational sham indicative of desperately wounded people resorting to desperate measures.
He said on the day of the briefing, Madisha and his group received a legal notice from the party lawyers to stop the media briefing because they are under suspension and do not have a legal mandate to speak on behalf of Cope.
“They will bear the consequences,” he said.
“In due course, after internal procedural considerations, a comprehensive briefing will be convened to be led by Cope’s president, the national chairperson, the acting general-secretary and other CNC members,” said Loate.
