There will be no split in the Congress of the People (Cope) over a leadership battle, Eastern Cape chair Andile Nkuhlu said on Thursday.
Briefing the media during the accreditation for what was supposed to be an electoral conference in Midrand, Nkuhlu was adamant that even though the focus of the conference had shifted to policy matters, there was no dissension in the ranks that would lead to a split.
The leadership was to have been decided at the conference, but after talks between the factions, it was decided to defer elections to September.
The party was divided into two groups, with one group supporting current president Terror Lekota, and the other, deputy president Mbhazima Shilowa.
Nkuhlu admitted there had been “skirmishes” but said the party had risen above them and was united.
“We are bold enough to admit where we have made mistakes. There have been skirmishes we have been engaged in which have not put the party in a good stance, but we are open, we have made mistakes.
“It was a realisation by all us that none of us were innocent in this fight [over control of the party] that was taking place — But none of us are convinced that a breakaway is a solution,” he said.
Member of Parliament Thozambile Botha rejected suggestions that a split was imminent.
“We have differences and we have got to work together. There are not two Copes.”
He said Lekota would remain at the helm until an election was convened in September, but was positive that the conference, albeit with no ballot, was a step in the right direction.
“This conference itself is going to give us some direction,” he said.
Bitter rivalry
Nkuhlu conceded that bitter rivalry had impacted on public confidence in the party, which was born after a breakaway from the African National Congress in 2008.
“We are sensitive to public criticism. We commit ourselves to be true to the mandate and the promise. We are also accepting that our reputation has been severely damaged.
“The public trust has to be earned. It’s not an easy process, we are not out of the woods yet,” said Botha.
Referring to a legal wrangle over the postponement of the conference by the Western Cape branch, Nkuhlu said it was common cause that there had been a “cessation of hostilities”.
Western Cape High Court Judge Siraj Desai was scheduled to hear an urgent application by members of the Lekota faction on Thursday morning.
However, court officials said the parties had notified the judge they were talking about a settlement.
The court case came after a number of branches had been excluded from the conference after allegations that they had inflated member numbers, among other things.
Lekota had threatened not to attend to conference on these grounds.
The policy conference was expected to begin on Friday. — Sapa