On Wednesday, the South African Electoral Commission (IEC) dismissed reports that the People’s Congress had been deregistered as a political party. He was responding to the reports, stating that the party was no longer eligible to run in the 2024 provincial and national elections. The party, beset by infighting and factionalism, first ran in 2008, but its popularity waned. It only has two seats in Parliament. Two weeks ago Willie Madisha MP, vice-chairman of the party, and his electoral secretary Mzwandile Hleko were expelled from the party. The couple was charged with acting unconstitutionally, undermining party leadership and abusing party funds.
COPE Unregistered Political Party
Denis Bloem, Cope’s national spokesman, says the party had been deregistered as a company with the Companies Intellectual Property Commission, but remains registered as a political party with the South African Electoral Commission (IEC). Mr. Lekota is the only one who knew that Cope was registered as a company, but Cope is not registered with the IEC.
Following media inquiries, the Election Commission confirms that the People’s Congress (Cope) is registered with the Commission as a political party under Section 15(A)(1) of the Commission Act Electoral 51 of 1996”, said by the IEC. He said that one of the requirements to cancel the registration of a party is when it was participating in the elections and operating as a party. The IEC also added that the other criteria that lead to the deregistration of a party are when “that party has changed its articles of association or foundation and the commission is satisfied that the change has resulted in that articles of association or foundation contains something that represents an incitement. or the propagation of hatred or violence or that seriously offends any sector of the population based on gender, ethnic origin, race, sex, color, age, religion, disability, culture, belief, conscience or language”.
For many years, Cope has been involved in factional battles. Also, a few weeks ago, in the latest drama, Cope’s vice president, Willie Madisha, was thrown out of the party. The party also said that Madisha would be removed from parliament after his ouster. Cope has had an ongoing leadership tug-of-war after party leader Mosiuoa Lekota’s resolution to oust Madisha and national elections secretary Mzwandile Hleko.
Madisha, Hleko and Bloem insist that they have the backing of various provincial party structures and that the move to remove them from their positions and from the organization was illegal.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn