Following months of political infighting and unending court battles, the Congress of the People (Cope) has announced its Makana candidates for the upcoming local government elections.
Following months of political infighting and unending court battles, the Congress of the People (Cope) has announced its Makana candidates for the upcoming local government elections.
Mbuleli Njibane, Congress of the People secretary in the Cacadu district, accused the party's leader Mosiua Lekota of blocking the party's structures in regions where he does not enjoy support, from submitting the lists to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
"The lists, which were finalised on the 24th of March, showed that we were ready to contest all the municipalities in the district but Baviaans," Njibane said. He added that since Lekota does not enjoy enough support in the Eastern Cape, he "used" one Dr Sharpley (Lekota's confidante) to approve lists for submission.
According to Njibane, of the nine municipalities in the district only the party's leaders in Makana could persuade the Mthatha-based Dr Sharpley to approve the submission of their list. Njibane charged that in provinces where he is not supported Lekota replaced Cope's Party Liaison Officers in the IEC's records with his supporters.
He alleged that subsequent to Cope's December conference which elected Mbhazima Shilowa as the party's president, Lekota formed "parallel structures". Njibane also accused Lekota and his group of delegates of abandoning the conference midway before the leadership was elected. "We elected leadership in the absence of Lekota's faction," he added.
Njibane added that a court decision as to who the real Cope leader is, is expected in Gauteng later this month and that it will pave the way for their election campaign launch and revelation of the party's manifesto.
The party's list for the elections in Makana are as follows: Ward List Ward 1: S. Mbunge, Ward 2: N. Meintjies, Ward 3: Y. Yame, Ward 4: M. November, Ward 5: P. May, Ward 6: V.Jacobs, Ward 7: M. Jonkman, Ward 8: P. Sixaba, Ward 9: B. Gora, Ward 10: V. Mthana, Ward 11: V. Njovane, Ward 12: Zukiswa Mhlwathika, Ward 13: L. Gqotholo and Ward 14: N. Madikane. PR List 1. N. Plaatjie, 2. V. Njovane, 3. Z. Mhwathika, 4. B. Daniels, 5. N. Yame, 6. C. Draai, 7. L. Gqotholo, 8. A. Morgan, 9. G Kete, 10. N. Dywili, 11. Antoinette, 12. L. Madwara, 13. M. Gule, 14. M.Ntlokwana, 15. M. Yamiso
