MANGOPE GETS A DOUBLE BLOW
Kgosi Lucas Mangope's application to interdict the holding of an elective congress by the United Christian Democratic Party was thrown out with costs by Judge Guqra in the Mmabatho High Court on Friday.
The octogenarian sought to stop the congress claiming that there would be no good attendance without him as he remains expelled by the party. He further argued that the congress had to be delayed until his application to appeal against an earlier ruling by the same court that put aside his expulsion of some senior members was heard.
Mangope maintains that he is the legitimate leader of the UCDP while the constitution of the party clearly states that the national leader of the party should be elected after every three years. Since the new democratic dispensation he has never been elected. He was merely carried along for all this time but the proverbial worm has come to turn.
The judge ruled that Mangope as an individual may not cause the party to suffer by not holding an elective congress so that his personal quest for power may be satisfied while the party will not have a properly and democratically elected leadership as other parties are preparing for the forthcoming local government elections.
On Saturday hordes of UCDP members turned up at the Mmabatho Convention Centre to elect new leadership since 2001.
The hundreds of delegates from as far as the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State and the obvious North West who attended proved that power is in the hands of the people. They were not scared by the attempt to torpedo the congress through an interdict the day before. Members showed their resolve to protect the soul of the UCDP.
The congress was an unqualified success that did not miss Mangope's supporters who did not attend.
The elections were run by the provincial chapter of the Independent Electoral Commission and the electoral college stood at 534.
The election results are as follows:
National leader: Mavis Matladi
Deputy national Leader: Sipho Mfundisi
National Chair: Ipuseng Ditshetelo
Secretary General: Tediye Moerane
Deputy Secretary Gen: Victoria Shomolekae
Treasurer: Beatrice Motshegare
Statement issued by Sipho Mfundisi, National Deputy Leader: UCDP, January 30 2011
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