Lekota ready to hand over Cope reins – Makhubele
The Congress of the People’s Colleen Makhubele said party president Mosiuoa Lekota was ready to let go of his position as party president.
Lekota has been at the helm since Cope’s inception as a breakaway party from the ANC in 2008.
Makhubele and the other Gauteng leaders held a press briefing in Braamfontein on Tuesday amid leadership squabbles that resulted in the expulsion of Lekota’s deputy Wille Madisha.
Cope’s elections secretary Mzwandile Hleko has also been expelled, while a decision over suspended national spokesperson Denis Bloem is yet to be finalised.
“He has served as the president of the party for two terms, and besides that, constitutionally, he cannot serve another term. He also wishes to retire. He is willing and ready to hand over the reins of the party in a constitutional process that elects new leaders,” she said.
Last year Lekota revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer, but denied being unfit to run the party. At the time, he said if the party’s members wanted, he would avail himself for the top job again.
In that same year, Lekota rejected an attempt at suspending him by a faction led by Madisha, who accused the party president of misusing party funds.
While it’s unclear who may take over should Lekota step down, Makhubele denied claims the party lacked a succession plan.
“There are democratic processes that mut be followed in how leaders are elected, and we are guided by that. But what we do is prepare for those congresses and sittings by bringing in leaders that are groomed and understand what Cope is about.”
While dates for the national and provincial congresses are yet to be announced, Makhubele said clarity on who will lead the party to next year’s polls would be given in “the next few weeks”.
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