Cope 'disappointed' by Odendaal

2009-07-08 08:17

Philda Essop

Cape Town - Lynda Odendaal, deputy president of Cope, resigned unexpectedly on Tuesday.

Odendaal, a businesswoman who joined the party last year, resigned as MP as well as from the party. As of yet her reasons are unknown.

Mvume Dandala, the parliamentary leader, said the party had not expected her resignation and found it disappointing.

According to him, the party would try to convince her to return.

Charlotte Lobe, secretary-general, said in a brief official statement that the party regretted Odendaal's decision.

"She has made a substantial contribution to Cope since the party's inception. We trust that she will continue to make a positive contribution to the country."

Philip Dexter, party spokesperson, said on Tuesday evening that he didn’t know why she had resigned. She sent her reasons to party leader Mosiuoa Lekota.

The party started to experience problems last month when a confidential memorandum written by Simon Grindrod was leaked to the media.

In the memorandum, Grindrod, Cope's national head of elections and member of the party's national committee, among other things warned about confusion surrounding who exactly the party's true leader is, since Lekota was not the parliamentary leader as well.

Dandala is the parliamentary leader, while Mbhazima Shilowa is the chief whip.