![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/2014/05/Cope.jpg)
MBOMBELA – The national chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Ms Pansy Tlakula declared that the national general elections was free and fair.Just before the elections, the ANC had declared the death of one of the opposition parties, the Congress of the People (COPE).
It has become a reality in Mpumalanga as they have failed dismally to get seats at the legislature.
Analysts previously indicated that Cope is not going to survive this time around due to the conflicts that they had and the establishment of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) which attracted many people, especially the youth. Even in 2009 the party didn’t perform well.
In the 2009 elections, COPE seemed as a threat as it was formed by former members of the ruling party and it was believed that since they knew the ins and outs of the ruling party, it would not be difficult to give the ANC a tough time, but it didn’t work like that and just before this year’s elections, they joined forces with the United Democratic Movement (UDM).
They question remains: what went wrong?
Read more in Thursday’s print edition of Mpumalanga News.