‘A terrible beauty is being born’

‘A terrible beauty is being born.”

Quoting poet William Yeats, Cope president Mosiuoa Lekota on Sunday opened the inaugural conference of the Congress of the People at the University of Free State in Bloemfontein.

The establishment of Cope led to emigrants who left South Africa after 1994 now ‘flooding” the country’s embassies overseas to come home, Lekota told the 3 500 delegates who came to represent the provinces.

‘South Africans who had lost faith in the vibrant rainbow nation, announced by Nelson Mandela and then left the country in despair, now rally around foreign missions demanding their right to return and make their contributions towards a better future in this country,” he said.

Cope claims to have branches in London and in Australia through the social networking site Facebook.

Delegates sang struggle songs but also made fun of ANC president Jacob Zuma in a song titled ‘Cope doesn’t have a shower”.

In a speech peppered with references to heroes like Mandela and struggle stalwart Walter Sisulu, Lekota also claimed that the image of South Africa had improved in the international community due to the emergence of Cope.

‘What doubts had begun to envelope views on the prospects of South African democracy has now been overtaken by a cautious optimism and fresh confidence that here, unlike in many other countries which attained independence and democracy, exists a resilience sufficient to sustain the momentum to our promised future. That a reliable and capable partner in the drive for excellence in governance is still in gestation.”

Lekota also took a swipe at the ANC who, in his view, coerce police officers to change charge sheets to facilitate the ‘escape of leaders from the wrath of the law”.

He also warned delegates not to follow the ANC’s example in believing that a party can ‘own voters”.

‘We have to instill the orientation of our members and voter that every election campaign can result in either a victory of defeat for all parties.”

Neville Mompati — a key ANC leader and former secretary of the party in the Northern Cape — on Sunday pledged his support to Cope during the opening session. Mompati was involved in a bitter battle in the Northern Cape for the chairperson of the province earlier this year. He lost to provincial minister John Block.

Recently resigned ANC provincial secretary Siphato Handi was also introduced to the conference.

Intimidation
Meanwhile, Cope on Sunday said it was not intimidated by the ruling party’s mass campaign in Bloemfontein.

”We don’t care. They can continue,” said spokesperson Phillip Dexter.

ANC president Jacob Zuma was expected to address supporters at a rally at Bloemfontein’s Seiso Ramabodu stadium on Tuesday.

Free State police spokesperson Superintendent Motantsi Makhele said there had been no reports of intimidation or violence.

”We hope it will continue to run smoothly.”

He said dozens of officers were deployed to strategic points of the institution to ensure a ”safe” event.

Nomonde Mahajana, a delegate from the North West, said she wanted a party that would not make false promises.

”We are tired of the ANC. We want change and protection. The ANC just makes money and they don’t protect our people.”

Esme Moetsi, a councillor from Kimberley, said she defected to Cope because ”the ANC works for the ANC and not the people”.

She said she worked for the ANC for five years and was never paid.