The Congress of the People’s (Cope) parliamentary leader on Wednesday refused to comment on whether he would resign from his post due to the turbulence in the party.
“I’m not in a position to talk at the moment. I would rather you spoke to JJ Tabane, who is my spokesperson,” Mvume Dandala said.
Tabane could not immediately be reached for comment.
The Times on Tuesday reported that Dandala was on the verge of leaving the party, pained and embarrassed by the leadership wrangling between former president Mosiuoa Lekota and acting president Mbhazima Shilowa.
“I cannot underplay the pain I am in right now,” he told the Times.
“I need time to reflect on what has happened in the past days. But I can assure you that I will make up my mind soon. I am troubled about what has happened.”
Meanwhile, Lekota’s court bid to overturn the vote of no-confidence in him would go ahead in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg at 2pm.
At a chaotic weekend congress, the vote of no-confidence removed Lekota from the party presidency and party spokesperson Dexter from his position.
Cope spokesperson Sipho Ngwema said the pair had publicly pronounced views contrary to those held by the party.
The vote was taken after Lekota interdicted the congress from proceeding with an election, which he argued contravened an agreement made by both factions during a meeting of Cope’s leadership structure, the congress national committee (CNC).
The CNC last week agreed the congress, initially meant to elect leadership, would be turned into a policy conference. However, during the congress on Saturday, delegates took a resolution to hold elections, expressing their displeasure at the decision taken by the party’ leadership. – Sapa