Criminal case opened over fake news that Cope’s Colleen Makhubele was fired

The drama never seems to end at the Congress of the People (Cope).

Case opened over fraudulent letter

The Gauteng branch of the party on Tuesday sent a media statement announcing that a criminal case has been opened at the Midrand Police Station over the fake letter sent to the Electoral Commission (IEC) on Monday.

The fraudulent letter, which had Cope president Mosiuoa Lekota’s name on it, claimed the City of Johannesburg’s speaker Colleen Makhubele has been fired by the party.

When contacted by The Citizen, Makhubele denounced the letter as fake.

Cope spokesperson Dennis Bloem also said he was unaware of Makhubele being fired.

Cope’s Gauteng Chairperson Thomas Mofokeng, in the media statement, said the fraudulent letter has been withdrawn.

“The Cope president and the Cope Gauteng province hereby confirm that the letter is fraudulent,” said Mofokeng.

“The president of Cope has no knowledge of the letter and had neither sanctioned nor authorised its content to withdraw Colleen Makhubele as a councillor in the City of Joburg and the purported termination of her membership in Cope and representation in the IEC.”

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

Mofokeng also added that the party “trusts the police will assist to investigate and finalise this matter speedily”.

When asked if Cope knows who sent the letter, Makhubele would only say that the party is “awaiting the investigation”.

Makhubele’s sick note

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 keep an eye on the replacement of former mayor and Cope member Murunwa Makwarela.

Makwarela resigned as Tshwane mayor after he was found to have provided a fake clearance certificate when it was revealed that he was insolvent.

Infighting in Cope

The issuing of the fake letter comes after infighting between factions inside Cope which has led to instability within the party.

A group from the party’s Tshwane caucus and the Gauteng leadership cannot agree which candidate 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