Lekota denies Cope infighting
2009-07-10 21:14
Johannesburg - Cope president Mosiuoa Lekota maintained on Friday there that there was no leadership tussle between himself and his first deputy Mbhazima Shilowa.
"I must be frank with you, I am unable to support that contention. I have consistently tabled my reasoning for this... I have exhausted every explanation I can offer with regard to this," he told reporters at the party's headquarters in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, flanked by party spokesperson Phillip Dexter.
Lekota's denial followed the resignation of two senior party leaders, second deputy president Lynda Odendaal and head of elections Simon Grinrod this week. Both had cited the leadership struggle between the two as a reason the party was floundering.
"Where is the evidence that these people are fighting? People can't just keep saying these people are fighting when you don't see a nose that is bleeding," Lekota said.
Perceptions
A perception had been created that there was a leadership battle between the two former ANC heavyweights.
"In politics perception often influences things more than hard facts," he said.
Dexter earlier denied the party was "falling apart". The briefing followed a meeting of the party leadership which began on Friday and would end on Saturday.
The first leg of the meeting heard a political report from Lekota.
"Cope rejects any suggestions that it is in crisis or is falling apart or that it has committed fraud. Nothing could be further from the truth," Dexter said.
Acknowledges challenges
While the party does face challenges, these were on its agenda and would be tackled, he said.
"There are problems and we are equal to the task," Lekota said.
The resignations occurred amidst criticism of the party by Grinrod and later, Odendaal.
According to Friday's Beeld newspaper Odendaal told Shilowa he was the problem in the organisation, and accused him of manipulation.
In a leaked memorandum Grinrod described the party as racked by "divisions and undemocratic principles".
- SAPA