Congress of the People (Cope) deputy president Mbhazima Shilowa has been removed from his positions as the party’s chief whip and accounting officer, Cope announced on Monday.
According to Cope, this was after filing a declaration with Parliament that financial systems were in place to manage the money given to the party and saying the statement was confirmed by an auditor, when it actually was not
“We’re not removing him as an MP,” Cope spokesperson and MP Phillip Dexter told journalists at a media briefing held in party president Mosiuoa Lekota’s parliamentary office.
Reading from a prepared statement, he said the decision had been reached at a regular fortnightly meeting of Cope’s national office bearers.
Lolo Mashiane was also sacked from her positions as administrative whip and liaison with Parliament. She had refused to cooperate with the forensic audit into the party finances being conducted by KPMG.
The two were replaced by party members loyal to the party president Mosiuoa Lekota. Thozamile Botha replaced Shilowa as acting chief whip and accounting officer, and Julie Killian, presently the house whip, replaced Mashiani.
‘No dealings with Cope’
A copy of a declaration, submitted by Cope to Parliament, was distributed to journalists. The document, dated January 29 this year, declares that the party “has in place effective, efficient and transparent financial management and internal control”.
It is signed, alongside the printed name “M Shilowa”. In a space marked “Auditor” the name “Anton Louw” has been printed.
Louw is an accountant with the firm Visser Louw. In a letter addressed to the party, dated October 14 this year, copies of which were also handed to journalists, Louw has distanced himself from the declaration document.
“My name … was printed on this document … I always sign my signature. At the date of the letter I was not involved with Cope and as to date have had no dealings with Cope,” he said.
‘Deeply aggrieved’
Speaking at Monday’s briefing, Lekota said Cope’s leadership was “deeply aggrieved” the declaration had been submitted to Parliament.
“The point of the matter is that the party is very deeply aggrieved about the false information having being filed on its behalf, and that’s why we have taken this … step immediately to remove Mr Shilowa as our chief whip and accounting officer,” he said.
Monday’s announcement comes as Cope is undergoing a forensic investigation of its finances by audit firm KPMG.
Lekota and Shilowa, both former senior African National Congress members, have long been at loggerheads over control of the party.
Dexter on Monday also announced appointments to fill the positions from which Shilowa and Mashiane have been removed. — Sapa, I-Net Bridge