Northern Cape Cope frustrates ANC
2012-02-23 21:30
Bloemfontein - The ANC on Thursday expressed frustration over a successful court action by Cope to stop the Northern Cape's state-of-the-province debate in Kimberley.
Provincial African National Congress spokesperson Monwabisi Nkompela said the Congress of the People had a tendency to resolve matters through the courts. "Clearly this is a political party that is overwhelmed by the political terrain."
Cope earlier successfully applied for an urgent court interdict to stop ANC chairperson and Finance MEC John Block from having unlimited time during the debate.
The order stopped the state-of-the-province debate in the legislature.
Nkompela said attacks on the ANC, and especially Block, had sunk to a new level with Cope. He said the court order was a sign of intellectual inferiority.
"This is borne out by the letters from Cope lawyers that clearly spell out their fear of speaking before him."
Nkompela said any political party with substantive views and integrity would not fear to speak anywhere on a list of speakers.
Cope provincial chairperson Fred Wyngaard said opposition parties tried unsuccessfully to get the ANC to adhere to the rules of the provincial legislature regarding the speaker's list for the debate.
He said ANC Chief Whip Kagiso Molusi drew up the list for Thursday's debate without consulting the opposition whips. The opposition refused to sign the list.
Speaker Jacobus van Wyk confirmed he adjourned the sitting on the debate to study the court order. He said the court order pre-empted his own ruling on the matter.
- SAPA
