Court bars Shilowa from Parliament

2011-02-12 07:26

Johannesburg - Cope's co-founder Mbhazima Shilowa has been barred from Parliament after the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg granted an interim order to its rival faction, Shilowa's spokesperson said on Friday.

"The court granted an interim order for a month barring Mr Shilowa from Parliament," said Sipho Ngwema.

"The order doesn't say he cannot be an MP, it just says he must not go to Parliament."

Shilowa received a 250-page court document at midnight on Thursday relating to an application made by his rival Mosiuoa Lekota.

The delivery of the court documents came just hours after President Jacob Zuma's state of the nation address in Parliament where the two co-founders hesitantly sat alongside each other.

"He [Shilowa] was supposed to respond by 10:00 but he only briefed his counsel this morning and then the court gave the order," said Ngwema.

Justice Watt-Pringle said it was an urgent matter as it wanted access into Cope's bank accounts.

"They used us an excuse," Ngwema told Sapa.

Shilowa intends challenging the order as soon as possible.

The order interdicted Shilowa from misrepresenting himself and ordered him not to interfere with the applicant's bankers.

He was also prohibited from preventing the applicant or his office bearers from carrying out their business at Cope's Johannesburg offices.

Shilowa had to pay the costs of the application.

Lekota's spokesperson, Phillip Dexter, added that the court had recognised Shilowa's expulsion from the party. This could not be verified.

He said Shilowa was no longer entitled to his MP seat and that the leadership would now deliberate on filling it at National Assembly.

There was a possibility that Shilowa also faced criminal charges of money laundering and fraud relating to the misuse of Cope's money. The Hawks were investigating, Dexter said.

The ANC-breakaway party has been plagued by a power struggle between Lekota and Shilowa for some time. It is presently unclear who the legitimate president of the party is because both men claim the title.

According to the Lekota faction, Cope's chaotic elective conference in December was abandoned due to violence and disruptions. The Shilowa camp however claimed the conference held a legitimate election and a new leadership was appointed.

- SAPA