Lekota wins leadership battle
The leadership battle started when Lekota expelled Mr Mbhazima Shilowa from the party after an internal disciplinary hearing found him guilty of mismanaging the party's parliamentary funds.
NELSPRUIT – Founder and president of the Congress of the People (COPE), Mr Mosiuoa Lekota has been declared the legitimate leader of this troubled movement.
According to a statement released by Cope’s spokesman, Mr JJ Abrie, the High Court in Johannesburg ruled today Lekota is the rightful leader of Cope.
He said acting Judge Craig Watt-Pringle ruled that the Congress of the People’s leadership led by Lekota and elected during its inaugural congress in Bloemfontein in 2008 was the party’s only legitimate leadership.
“The ruling further confirms the conclusion of that the aborted first national congress of December 2010, was not quorate and therefore did not happen, let alone elect new leadership of the party,” he said.
The leadership battle started when Lekota expelled Mr Mbhazima Shilowa from the party after an internal disciplinary hearing found him guilty of mismanaging the party’s parliamentary funds.
The women’s league of this party had earlier encourage Peace and Calm no matter who wins the leadership battle.
