Cape Town – The troubled political party Cope continues to experience leadership conflicts, this time involving the expulsion of deputy president Willie Madisha and elections secretary Mzwandile Hleko.
Cope only has two MPs representing the party in Parliament, and Madisha is likely to lose his seat as well.
The decision to expel the pair was made at a congress national committee meeting.
Letters to terminate now former COPE deputy president #WillieMadisha and Mzwandile Hleko. #Pravin #Dyantyi #HelenZille pic.twitter.com/ARL4h08i5q
— Lunga_mzangwe (@lunga_mzangwe) June 25, 2023
Madisha and Hleko had been previously suspended but remained active.
The party’s upcoming national conference has become the centre of the conflict, as party president Mosiuoa Lekota must give up his seat.
Acting secretary-general Erick Mohlapamaswi accused Madisha and Hleko of acting unconstitutionally, misusing party funds, and undermining party leadership.
COPE Deputy President, Willie Madisha has been expelled from the party. Acting general secretary, Erick Mohlapamaswi says Madisha was expelled for the misuse of party funds and acting against party’s constitution amongst other things.
Watch: https://t.co/KQmR7CV0tc pic.twitter.com/AQ7EnbYHnX
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) June 25, 2023
According to News24, a factional battle centred around Lekota and Madisha peaked in August last year when they announced the suspension of each other from the party.
Madisha accused Lekota of “lacking strength” to lead the party amid his ill-health, the report said.
“Given his health conditions, he is not able to perform what the party and all South Africans expect him to do, which is to attend to the work of Parliament,” the report quoted him as saying.
The conflicts within the party have not yet been resolved and may be argued in court, EWN reported.
Madisha gained notoriety for mocking Minister Naledi Pandor in Parliament back in 2015.
COPE terminated the membership of it’s Deputy President Willie Mothipa Madisha for failing to respond to the party’s letter.
Honorable Willie Madisha’s greatest moment of his life in South African parliament: pic.twitter.com/a6ao9mBjbW
— Man’s NOT Barry Roux (@AdvoBarryRoux) June 26, 2023
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
