Letter claims Cope has booted Joburg speaker Colleen Makhubele, she says it’s fake

A letter is doing the rounds on Monday claiming the City of Johannesburg’s speaker Colleen Makhubele has been fired by her party, the Congress of the People (Cope).

The letter, addressed to the Electoral Commission (IEC), is supposedly signed by Cope president Mosiuoa Lekota. Makhubele, however, says it is fake.

Cope spokesperson Dennis Bloem also said he is unaware of Makhubele being fired from the party.

The letter stated that Makhubele’s “conduct brought the organisation into disrepute and, therefore, her membership has been terminated with immediate effect”.

Makhubele was criticised last week for submitting a sick note for a City of Johannesburg meeting and then attending a Tshwane council meeting.

Makhubele was reportedly in Tshwane to get involved in the replacement of former mayor and Cope member Murunwa Makwarela.

Makwarela resigned as Tshwane mayor after he was found to be insolvent and he then provided a fake clearance certificate.

ALSO READ: Tshwane Mayor Makwarela resigns amid fake rehabilitation certificate drama

The confusion comes after infighting between factions inside Cope has rocked the party.

Cope president Mosiuoa Lekota and his deputy Willie Madisha have not always agreed on important decisions to be taken by the party. They, however, both called for factions within Cope to put their differences aside.

This came after a group from the Tshwane caucus and the Gauteng leadership had a disagreement over who should replace Makwarela.

The Tshwane faction wants Thabang Sefanyetso to replace Makwarela. The Gauteng group, however, announced that Ofentse Moalusi has been approved for the position, which was reportedly backed by Lekota.

ALSO READ: No end to Cope’s infighting

Cope’s leadership in Gauteng alleged that Sefanyetso has two identity documents and a criminal record. This would mean he should not take Makwarela’s seat.