CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM-CWC MEMBERS ONLY

DATE: 09.06.2009
FROM: National Head of Elections - Simon Grindrod
TO President and Cope Working Committee
M.L. M.S, LO, C..L, H.N, P.D, S.N, M.G, D.C

SUBJECT: CHALLENGES TO COPE AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Following the COPE NC strategic workshop over weekend of 23/24 May and my appointment by CNC to CWC as National Head of Elections, and my subsequent engagements with members and structures in terms of election preparations, I wish to report on the key challenges currently faced by our party In terms of ‘battle readiness' for By-Elections and municipal elections possibly next year.

There is significant communication coming through from structures In all provinces which colleagues will have noted. However I feel I would be failing in my responsibility if I did not bring to the attention of CWC colleagues how extremely urgent these issues have become. It is becoming extremely tough to work on the ground in terms of building support. We must act in unified and decisive fashion to rectify the situation. This confidential memo is designed to offer constructive proposals to assist the party we have all worked so hard to build.,,

As a committed and dedicated member of Cope leadership, I owe it to the party to do everything possible to contribute to the positive change Cope has the potential to delver to our country. We must accordingly face some hard truths about certain aspects of our party at this time.

Division and indecision are taking their toll on our grassroots structures. The common belief is that Cope has become ‘just like the ANC' in practice. Ordinary members, previously so enthusiastic and inspired by our message, are abandoning us and losing confidence in our ability to rectify clear cases of undemocratic or unacceptable behaviour.

Critically, trust in leadership structures is being broken as inaction continues. There appears to be an intolerance of those who articulate any grievances or concerns. We cannot ever be complacent about our support in the face of very real strategies by both the DA and ANC to recruit our members.

Post-election communication with and from structures from all Provinces broadly fit into five categories. There is a sense of a despondency within many structures of Cope which can broadly be attributed to a general lack of communication and direction. We are failing to maintain any form of momentum going towards the local elections. The honeymoon is over and, in the absence of a plan to continuously direct and inspire our vital grassroots supporters, supporters will continue to simply drift away from us.

We new face the extremely damaging situation of having parallel structures In many provinces and regions aligned to either the President or the Deputy President. Faced with this, national leaders must present more forcefully the unity of purpose so desperately needed in a healthy, modern party. The perception continues that the President is being Isolated by those supporting the Deputy President. This scenario is rapidly becoming a carbon-copy of the events in the ANC which led to Polokwane. No member of Cope would look kindly upon us allowing the same mistakes to be made in our new party.

We are in very real danger of letting down the voters who trusted our message of unity, integrity, democracy and service to the people of our country. It must not be allowed to happen.

We cannot afford to wait any longer in implementing plans to fully capacitate our organization in terms of full time organizing and communications functions. These are fundamental aspects of any organization but absolutely vital to the survival of a political party. Cope is in very real danger of following the route of the UDM and ID If difficult decisions are not made immediately.

Cape voters and members are asking "what happened to Cope?". This must not be allowed to continue.

A constant theme coming from structures is concern over lack of Cope ‘presence' both in terms of messaging and availability of MP's and MPL's to the structures. It is critical that our newly elected representatives immediately begin a program of attending community meetings to listen to the people. This can be addressed with a comprehensive strategy for each MP, MPL during the constituency period.

My constructive recommendations for addressing such challenges are included along with my proposals for introducing Policy, Procedures and Structure to the critical issue of successfully contesting the many By-Elections we will be faced with in the next months.

The productive discussions which take place within the CNC are of little use if decisions made are not effectively communicated to grassroots members.

I cannot stress strongly enough the urgent need to ‘stop the rot' if we are not to face a meltdown of support at the local elections.

Cope structures must no longer be seen as the ‘personal property' of certain individuals who perpetuate the bad habits learned in the ANC. Those with the skills and capacity to assist us are being excluded from active participation in the structures. As committed leaders of Cope, our efforts to address these challenges must take priority if we are to build on our initial success. There is very little point in allowing this perilous situation to continue any longer.

INTERIM STRUCTURES

It is clear that the hurried establishment of Interim Structures at all levels of the party has resulted in very serious consequences for our grass roots support. In most provinces, discontent has resulted as many previous and/or potential supporters and activists perceive that they have been purposely excluded from participating in the structures. There Is no doubt that certain groups and individuals took advantage of our concept of ‘interim structures' to purposefully lock themselves into leadership positions.

As reported to the CNC, by definition, all structures of our party are unelected which has certainly given rise to widespread accusations of ‘gate-keeping' and illegitimacy. Such grievances are currently citing race, political background, tribalism or historic divisions inherited from the ANC.

Recommendation - National leadership must widely communicate the strategic plan to convene elective conferences at all levels of the party and reaffirm our commitment to internal democracy.

LIST ‘FRAUD' INVESTIGATION

This remains a highly contentious issue amongst Ordinary members and shows no sign of simply going away. Until we are absolutely transparent and honest with our members about these alleged irregularities, the perception will remain that a cover up is being attempted. It is totally unacceptable to most that nomination forms could disappear or that those candidates properly nominated could have their names substituted by individuals on the day of submission to the IEC.

Public media statements were made prior to the election promising firm action and a full report. We are obligated as leadership to play open cards with our members and supporters.

The internal and external damage to the credibility and integrity of our party have been severely impacted by widespread allegations of irregularities with the nomination process for our 2009 party lists. We must accept that this caused loss of support and disillusionment amongst grass roots members of Cope In all nine provinces. It is critical that all our elected representatives are seen as legitimately nominated and elected voices of the people who are accountable to the structures of the party and constituents.

The perceived delay in taking effective and firm action to deal with these allegations and perceptions are creating further difficulties as we attempt to recruit members and establish support. Even worse. the perceived ‘inaction' of National Leadership has created the perception that such irregularities were/are condoned. Such action directly undermines our stated principles of anti-corruption and transparency.

Recommendation - National leadership must urgently be seen to investigate such allegations and take firm action against those found guilty of fraudulently manipulating the list process.

CONFUSION OVER LEADERSHIP

Cope members and the wider SA electorate remain confused around issues of leadership. Again, issues of credibility result. The Leader of the party, the President, does not lead us Parliament whilst the first Deputy President Is the Chief Whip. Our Presidential Candidate officially leads the National Parliamentary party. it Is increasing the case that ordinary members ask ‘Who leads us?'.

In addition, this confusion is manifesting itself as divisions on the ground as supporters naturally gravitate towards their preferred centre of power.

Recommendation - National leadership must urgently clarify to structures and the wider public the exact nature of roles and responsibilities of members of the Presidency. The completion of the party Constitution may assist this.

COMPOSITION OF LEADERSHIP AND ELECTED REPS

There is a widespread belief that leadership and elected representatives of COPE are largely former ANC members. Indeed, the overwhelming majority of our MPL's across the provinces are from the ANC. Approximately 80% of our National MP's are former ANC members. Whilst this is born out of the circumstances of the party's birth, this does nothing to counter the constant accusation of COPE being merely an ‘ANC-Lite'. Whilst this may have been the result of an imperfect list process, it must be addressed. In addition, critical constituencies such as Muslims are not represented. This fact directly contradicts our stated principle of a party for all South Africans

Recommendation - National leadership must actively acknowledge the perception and articulate plans to address the Issue of diversity In future processes.

DISCIPLINE AND STRUCTURE

Many ordinary members complain that there does not appear to be structured communication, discipline or process within the party. This is a symptom of the haste with which our party was formed. It does, however, lead to a potentially damaging environment, a ‘free for all', in which Individuals do as they please with perceived impunity. This is creating despondency amongst all those who joined Cope to build a disciplined, new alternative.

Recommendation - CNC must finalise the operating Constitutional guidelines and distribute widely to all members and structures before final adoption. ThIs Is especially important In terms of the urgent need to establish brandies and structures.

Colleagues, we can turn this state of affairs around if we act now, without fear or favour, to recapture the spirit of hope upon which Cope was founded. I trust you accept this memo in the spirit of achieving this.

Regards

Simon

Source: www.capetimes.co.za

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