Cope: ANC rally a sign of desperation

The African National Congress (ANC) holding an Eastern Cape election manifesto rally at the same time as the Congress of the People (Cope) is a sign of desperation, Cope deputy president Mbhazima Shilowa said on Friday.

“They decided to launch their election manifesto here two weeks ago, and the fact that they are here again shows how desperate they are becoming,” he told the South African Press Association in Port Elizabeth.

“Even in their own eyes they can see there is a power shift.”

Cope was expected to release its election manifesto in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. On Thursday the ANC announced it would hold an election manifesto rally on the same day, in the same city.

The ruling party, however, denied this was aimed at derailing Cope’s launch.

“The ANC dispels any misconceptions that the Eastern Cape regional manifesto rallies are intended to counter a planned Cope meeting to be held in Port Elizabeth,” read a statement.

“The ANC programmes and campaigns are prepared well in advance and are not subject to the influence of or dictated [by] other political parties.

“The ANC has national reach, machinery and capacity to be able to hold massive rallies across the country, simultaneously.”

Shilowa said Cope did not anticipate any disruptions at its manifesto launch at the Wolfson Stadium.

However, he added: “You can never tell, where the ANC is concerned, whether or not there will be disruptions.”

Cope was liaising with the police to ensure that the event went smoothly and peacefully.

“We will try to ensure on our part that things are peaceful ... but with the ANC, you can’t put it past them.”

Shilowa said Cope’s focus would not be on the ANC, but rather on the newly formed party’s message to South Africans. He said this was one of hope and described the party as a defender of the Constitution.—Sapa