COURT RULING DOES NOT NULLIFY THE COPE CONGRESS STATUS AND POWERS
Various media reports indicate that there may be confusion regarding the status and resolutions of the current congress following the urgent court interdict by the former COPE president Mosiuoa Lekota.
The CNC resolution which was enforced by the court ruling yesterday does not relegate the congress to a mere policy conference. The status, powers and agenda of the congress remain, only the elections item is restrained by the ruling.
Whilst widespread media comments may seek to cause uncertainty, all the resolutions, motions and other decisions of the congress, save those related to internal elections, are the positions of COPE. This is the CNC resolution in full:
CNC Resolution of 27 May 2010
1. Pursuant to the decision of the CNC of 5 February 2010 to convene the national congress as of today, and recognizing that in the process leading up to this national congress there are events and processes that threatened the unity and cohesion of our organization, the CNC has reviewed its decision to continue with the national congress and instead hereby resolves to convert the national congress into national congress policy conference under the same rules applicable to the national congress with the same agenda and powers as national congress save for the right to hold election of the CNC.
2. That all other congress items and preparations as previously agreed and discussed be proceeded with and adopted, in particular CNC reports (political, organizational & financial reports), policy discussions and constitutional amendments.
3. Defer the item on elections for a period of 3 months in order to allow nominations in terms of the portfolios to be adopted by amendment of the constitution.
4. Withdrawal of the Western Cape Congress litigation with immediate effect by the applicants (President & Phillip Dexter to assist).
5. Bring to a halt eminent litigation purporting to interdict national congress by any other member of the organization in order to allow national congress to proceed as above recommended. ( President & Phillip to assist).
6. Extend registration period of delegates till 13h00 of Friday the 28th of May 2010.
7. Consequently shift commencement time of national congress from 10h00 on Friday the 28th of May 2010 to 14h00 of the same day so as to allow optimal opportunity for all eligible comrades to travel to and arrive at the congress venue.
8. Accept delegation to national congress on the basis of the national audit team report led by cde Neville Mompati of branches that passed final audit which are no less than 1505 [and consider any others that may be added by the audit team within the ambit of the criteria previously accepted by the CNC.
Statement issued by Sipho Ngwema on behalf of the Congress of the People (Shilowa), May 30 2010
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
