"It is always good policy to tell the truth unless of course you are an exceptionally good liar" Jerome K. Jerome.
The Congress of the People is on verge of a split because of untruths and dishonesty of its former president Patrick Lekota and his spin doctor Phillip Dexter. Ordinary members of the organization are used as pawns in this game played by Lekota. Would you say that the ANC was harsh when it said "good riddance" when he left in 2008? I agree with them and I say good riddance on him vacating the position of president. Here are some of the truths that the public should know about our former president:
The Congress National Committee (CNC) takes a resolution to convene a National Congress on the 27th to 30th May 2010. Former president Lekota presided over that meeting.
The same meeting agrees on a national branch audit exercise to deter mine whether branch launches were in keeping with the guidelines or not.
A National Congress Preparatory Committee was set under the headship of the General Secretary Cde Charlotte Lobe and constituted by Provincial Secretaries and the National Organizer Cde Mluleki George.
A National audit team was set, led by Cde Neville Mompati and Thozamile Botha who is a staunch supporter of Terror Lekota was part of that team.
The month of April was set aside for provincial audits and teams were dispatched across 9 provinces to undertake this audit exercise.
All those that were in the audit team never knew which branch was supporting either Patrick Lekota or Mbazima Shilowa.
When the CNC converged at the COPE House on May 14 and 15th, 2010, report was tabled on progress made towards congress. The General Secretary presented a report without the budget for it was already adopted in a previous meeting.
Neville then presented a branch audit report from all provinces. The report was adopted in principle with 3 provinces raising queries. These provinces were Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Free State.
It is important to note that Lekota presided over that 2 day meeting and nobody assisted him at any given time.
On Monday, 17th May 2010, a press conference was addressed by the General Secretary, Charlotte Lobe, briefed the media on national congress preparations.
The following day, Patrick Lekota addressed different radio stations preaching the postponement of the congress against the CNC decision that he presided over. This was also in contradiction of what the General Secretary had communicated to the general public.
While all this was happening, there were Provincial Representatives who were engaging with Lakota's team led by Thozamile Botha. The intentions were to attempt to unify the party by agreeing to a deal that would secure positions for certain comrades including Lekota.
This the engagement that led to the compromise of a National Policy Conference that would not deal with elections at St Georges instead handle all other congress matters. This CNC resolution was to be tabled as a recommendation at the National Congress.
When it was duly tabled at the Congress, delegates from branches rejected the proposal and therefore wanted to continue with the congress work including election of both national office bearers and CNC additional members.
It is then at that stage that Lekota and his cabal walked out of the meeting and decided to go to court and interdict the COPE Congress. This was a sign of protest caused by the fact that the resolution of the CNC was not accepted by the Congress.
Contrary to what Lekota was claiming, all provinces of COPE were represented in the congress including Mpumalanga which had indicated that it won't attend the congress. Limpopo had more than 300 delegates and the Free State had 200 delegates against the inaccuracies by Lekota. It is also critical to note that Mpumalanga had only 2 branches that passed the audit.
The National Congress passed a motion of no confidence on Lekota and Phillip respectively. This was a unanimous move with no objection at all. Instead of Lekota taking this as a democrat, he takes the party to court to nullify that motion. This is hunger for power at its best.
What do we read out of this?
Lekota is unable to work within a collective. He behaves like a spoilt child that when he does not get what he wants, he goes out and cries or locks himself in his room. It is common knowledge that the National Congress is higher in authority and constitutional standing than the CNC. In actual fact the CNC has delegated powers from the national congress. It therefore does not arise that the congress can take instructions from the CNC.
There are no principles that the Lekota cabal is raising except the fact that they are not nominated by any of the provinces. Some within this cabal are worried about their positions as public representatives in both parliament and the legislature in provinces.
The key question though is what will happen when the court does not rule in favor of Lekota and Phillip Dexter? Will we see a possible split within the party? Who is really hungry for power here? Is it Shilowa or our own version of Gatsha Buthelezi or Robert Mugabe?
Will the outcome of the legal process change the delegates' view point on the change of guard for COPE? Will Terror run to court whenever decisions don't go his way?
Even if we convene the adjourned congress in September, Terror will not emerge as COPE president for branches have spoken. Cde Terror and his supporters can take that to the bank!
COPE is ailing because of Lekota and those that want to leave or split and maybe its time to accept that reality. Better fewer........
Mbulelo Bara, COPE Gauteng Provincial Secretary in his personal capacity.
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