Cope's problems continue

2010-10-26 18:10

Johannesburg - The fate of suspended Cope co-founders Mbhazima Shilowa and Mluleki George, as well as administrative whip Lolo Mashiane has yet to be decided, party spokesperson Philip Dexter said on Tuesday.

"They have been suspended, but the Congress national committee is meeting on the weekend and will consider the disciplinary steps that will be taken," he told Sapa.

The Congress of the People was formed in a blaze of publicity after Mosioua Lekota, Shilowa and George announced their "divorce" from the ANC in 2008.

Some members were torn over support for ousted former president Thabo Mbeki, charging that the ruling party had lost many of its founding values.

Leadership disputes

After a good showing at the 2009 elections with former Methodist Bishop Mvume Dandala mysteriously presented as their candidate for leader in Parliament, Cope has fallen into disarray with the courts being called on to referee leadership disputes.

Last week Shilowa was removed as Cope's chief whip in Parliament and Mashiane as that party's administrative whip.

The party cited questions over an audit of the party's financial concerns for the Shilowa suspension.

Mashiane was suspended because she allegedly refused to co-operate with the KPMG for an audit.

Dexter said Shilowa and George were suspended from their positions of leadership in the party on Monday.

This comes amid allegations that they made statements that had brought the party into disrepute.

These included a statement that the national office bearers were convening a congress on November 5, when it was not a decision of the central national committee, said Dexter.

- SAPA