The long night of uncertainty in the Congress of the People is finally over!

This morning the Honourable Mr. Justice Watt-Pringle A.J. handed down the final judgment in the matter COPE and one other vs Shilowa and others.

Justice Watt-Pringle's ruling confirms that the leadership of the Congress of the People (COPE) elected by acclamation in 2008 during the inaugural Congress in Bloemfontein and led by Hon. Mosiuoa Lekota as its President is the only legitimate leadership of the party.

The ruling upholds COPE's firmly held position of the supremacy of constitutional democracy in the Party by rejecting that the constitution of COPE was amended during the St Georges policy conference in May 2010 thus reducing the constitutional requirement of a quorum from two-thirds to 50% plus 1 in order to elect leadership.

The ruling further confirms the conclusion of the Congress of the People that the aborted First National Congress of December 2010 at the Heartfelt Family Church in Thaba Tshwane was not quorate and therefore did not happen, let alone elect new leadership of the Party.

Justice Watt-Pringle's ruling affirms COPE's view that the court battle that has been taking place was in essence a battle against impunity, fraud and indiscipline - a battle for constitutionalism, democracy and accountability. It was a battle over a clash of the values represented by different leaders and not a battle about the different leaders.

The High Court ruling now paves the way for COPE to hold its National Congress in an orderly manner and with legitimate members who comply with the Party Renewal Programme (PRP) launched in 2011. The PRP is the Party's failsafe mechanism to make the fraudulent participation of delegates in any congress or meeting of the Party impossible.

The National Congress will re-confirm the founding principles and values of the Party, refine its policies and elect a leadership whose primary and urgent task will be to conduct a successful 2014 national and provincial elections campaign to take our country out of its current overall crisis.

The President of Congress of the People addressed the media this morning at the Pitje Chambers in Johannesburg to map out the way forward for the Party.

Statement issued by Johann Abrie, Acting Head of Communication Congress of the People, October 18 2013

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter