Strife continues for COPE in the Western Cape

By Ofentse Mokae
22 November 2009

The strife in the Congress of the People continues with a group of Cope members convening a grudge meeting in Langa, Cape Town this afternoon.

A group led by Bernard Joseph accuses the provincial leadership of undemocratic practices.

They are particularly unhappy about the actions of Mbulelo Ncedana in the Southern Cape.

The group accuse Ncedana of setting up a parallel leadership structure, in opposition to what they call the legitimate structure in the region.

The national leadership has been invited to this afternoon’s meeting.

Earlier this month Alan Boesak COPE’s provincial leader resigned from the party and tendered his resignation as a member of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature.

Boesak said COPE in the Western Cape continued to be in disarray and was characterised by faction fighting, strife, pitched battles for political supremacy and duplicity.

Meanwhile the party’s well known national leader Lyndall Shope-Mafole is under investigation by her former employer the communications department for an alleged multi-million rand scam.

COPE's national spokesman Phillip Dexter says they are aware of the meeting, however since its not an official party meeting they will not be part of it.

Dexter also confirmed reports of alleged scam by his party colleague Shope-Mafole however says she denies herself of any wrong doing.

A press statement is expected to be sent out later in the day by party officials.