In the early hours of the 15th of December, delegates started to arrive at the registration centre in Centurion. As a result of decisions taken by the CNC the night before, registration only commenced after morning tea time on the 15th of December.

During the late hours of the 15th of December, the employees of the company hired by COPE to execute registration departed from their workstations caused by a labour dispute related to over-time pay. Despite a promise to return to work the next day, the company never surfaced.

In the evening of the 15th, delegates assembled in the Heartfelt Arena. After the CNC meeting the President, Deputy President and members of the CNC took to the stage to explain to delegates what transpired during the past 24 hours, and to announce the CNC's plan to speed up and resolve matters of accreditation.

As President Lekota took to the podium, a group of not more than 80 (from 2200) delegates embarked on singing derogatory songs directed at the President. Lekota ignored the singing and continued to explain to delegates the crisis vis-a-vis registration and discrepancies in delegates information. At that time, Congress could not have been declared in session. The group of approximately 80 individuals then embarked on a more aggressive attack and soon after, full scale chaos erupted as delegates chased each other with chairs and threw objects at one another, inspired by the Shilowa mass attack.

The CNC decided to proceed with manual registration at the Heartfelt arena in Thaba Tshwane where the Congress was to take place, not an ideal solution, but deemed fit by the CNC at the time.

The process was a slow and painful one as disputes arose from everywhere. During the registration process of the Western Cape, late in the evening of the 16th, senior leaders aligned with Shilowa became uncomfortable with observers deployed at the registration points.

Later that night, while he was walking in an open area on the conference floor, members of the CNC, mainly female members, physically assaulted the head of the accreditation committee, Crd. Thozamile Botha, the one man during all the fights and chaos, was the one who encouraged everyone to continue with registration and ensure that we can declare the conference in session, present and adopt credentials. Thozamile Botha knew that the only way to bestow credibility to the congress, was to ensure that every member, mandated by every legitimate branch, in every voting district, is allowed the opportunity to cast his/her vote.

Despite all attempts to calm down the situation, a mob of Shilowa anarchists continued to create noise.

Shortly after daybreak, President Lekota and some members of the CNC met to resolve the stalemate. As the meeting was in session, the event organiser and the owners of Heartfelt Arena entered the room to inform the President that the timeline for hiring the Congress venue expired at midnight, and they requested us to vacate the premises before 09:30am. Shorty after this call, President Lekota spoke to General Gela of the SAPS whom confirmed the instruction of the owners.

At this time President Lekota left the premises and most provincial and regional leaders advised their delegations to do the same.

At this time, most delegates boarded their buses and left the premises, waiting on further instructions.

Despite the instructions of the event organiser, the owner of the Heartfelt Arena (Pastor Pienaar) and General Gela of the South African Police Force, a small band of Shilowa supporters gathered outside the hall in an open area. These comrades hastily erected a registration centre under a Pine tree on the Southern side of the hall, inside the parameter. In less than 30 minutes they completed and approved of accreditation, checked the identity documents, verified their voting districts, aligned them with constitutional branches, and execute elections. It took more than 3 days to do this, but this band did it in 30 minutes.

Totally oblivious of the fact that another party booked the sport field at the Tshwane events centre, the bulk of the delegates departed there.

President Lekota received a raptures welcome on arrival. Some delegates were disappointed that the gathering did not result in the pronouncement of a new CNC, but Pres. Lekota explained to delegates that there is no constitutional crisis as the constitution of COPE does not dictate the CNC to be dissolved after 24 months.

Despite the demands of some delegates, President Lekota thanked everyone present and advised them to return to the holding area, board their buses and return home.

While this impromptu meeting took place, we became aware that we occupied a section of the Tshwane Events Centre which was booked by the 17th World Festival of the Youth and Students. The sole purpose of us using this venue was based on a preliminary agreement by the individual tasked to secure the venue and to engage the owners thereof.

During the speech of President Lekota, a small band of individuals approached the sport field from the north-eastern side. It was only on their arrival that it became clear that these individuals were not part of our peaceful gathering. They used any ornament to their disposal, including wooden benches, as missiles thrown at at our members assembled on the pavilion.

Delegates restrained themselves from any possible conflict until such time when they were physically attacked by the mob from the north eastern side.

The Congress of the People tendered an apology to Mr. Andile Lungisa for the petite disruption (albeit not intentional) of his event.

After all, the First Elective Congress of COPE did not take place. The Congress, as stipulated in the constitution was not opened, no credentials was presented nor adopted.

Despite the second attempt by deputy president Shilowa to crown himself as king, the members of COPE, albeit irritated by the events, declared themselves ready for an elective congress as soon as possible. This time, after the entire membership of the party, including name, id number, VD and branch nomination is captured and recorded on the voter's roll.

At this time, our branch members, once again, declare our commitment to the Congress of the People. We will not harbour any grudges to our leaders. We will extend our commitment to the party once again, and if needed, we will do it again, but we will never ever accept a political solution to a criminal problem.

Johann Abrie is COPE Member of the Executive, Limpopo

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