Mda still suspended - Cope
2009-10-15 15:36
Johannesburg - Cope youth leader Anele Mda will remain suspended, the party's youth movement said in Johannesburg on Thursday.
General secretary Malusi Booi told a media briefing that Mda remained a Member of Parliament and Congress of the People member. He explained that she could not be active in any other leadership roles in the party pending disciplinary processes.
"Following our national steering committee meeting at the weekend, we resolved to accept the CWC's (Congress Working Committee) decision to suspend Comrade Mda," said Booi.
'Racist and sexist comments'
Mda was suspended after the party's CWC received a complaint from deputy general secretary Deidre Carter about Mda.
The CWC held an extra-ordinary session last month after Carter wrote to it about the alleged "racist and sexist" comments directed at her.
Mda allegedly accused Carter of being a "token white stupid bitch" after a Cope meeting in Johannesburg on September 6.
Cope general secretary Charlotte Lobe said at the time that the committee had to act swiftly and suspend Mda.
"We take such alleged comments very seriously, hence we had to suspend her," said Lobe.
At the weekend meeting, the party's youth movement elected the deputy national chairperson, Thabiso Teffo, as acting national chairperson in Mda's absence.
E-mails circulated
"We do not know how long the disciplinary processes will take but we have agreed to be patient, to be fair on both the complainant and Mda.
"We cannot simply purge her because of an allegation. What if she's found not guilty?" said Teffo.
Asked about e-mails that were allegedly being circulated by Cope members unhappy about Mda's suspension, Teffo said: "We did not receive any formal letters from our members on this matter.
"I must say though that in any organisation, when such decisions to discipline a leader or member are taken, they cannot go down well with everyone. However, after explaining to our members the reasons behind the decision, the members understand."
Mda first landed in hot water last November when the party had to apologise for a remark she made about President Jacob Zuma, who was acquitted of rape in 2006.
Mda, in the run-up to the general elections that saw Zuma become president, reportedly called him "a rapist" and said if the ANC was re-elected into government under Zuma, "rape would no longer be a criminal offence".
- SAPA