/ 10 December 2010

Congress of the desperate

Congress Of The Desperate

The cash-strapped Congress of the People (Cope) is struggling with last-minute preparations for its inaugural elective congress, scheduled for next week, amid proposals that the conference should be cut from a two-day to a one-day event to reduce hotel and catering costs.

The congress, already postponed twice, is scheduled for December 15 and 16. The party’s congress national committee (CNC) decided on a cheaper venue, the Heartfelt Arena, a hall at the Heartfelt Family Church in Thaba-Tshwane outside Pretoria, instead of a venue in Thaba Nchu in the Free State.

“This place is costing us only R20 000,” said a CNC member who cannot be named because he is not mandated to speak for the party.

The party’s national spokesperson, Phillip Dexter, and the national organiser, Mluleki George, both members of the congress’s preparatory committee, insisted that the congress would sit for two days. “There have been a lot of considerations, but the official position is still December 15 and 16,” said George.

He could not provide the number of delegates expected at the event because the CNC is still waiting for a final audit of branches, just five days before the conference takes place.

The congress is expected to end the drawn-out leadership battle between current president Mosiuoa Lekota and his deputy, Mbhazima Shilowa. It could, however, give rise to further divisions if the losing faction refuses to accept defeat.

A victory for Lekota would strengthen him in his campaign to take on Shilowa over the allegations, yet to be proved, that he misused the party’s parliamentary funds while still its chief whip. Shilowa could use victory to hit back at Lekota and his allies, who he has already accused of tarnishing his name without producing evidence of alleged financial mismanagement.

Leadership squabbles
If next week’s congress fails to unite the two factions, the long-predicted split in the party could finally materialise.

The name of former Limpopo premier and Cope’s current leader in the province, Sello Moloto, was added to the leadership race this week, with reports that he has been mooted as a compromise candidate.

“Moloto is banking on the people who feel both Lekota and Shilowa have failed the organisation. He’s hoping that these people will support him,” said a CNC member.

Moloto denied hankering after the top position, but did not rule out the possibility that he might accept nomination.

There have been no further nominations since the May congress, but a CNC member emphasised that any candidate could be nominated from the floor.

A Lekota supporter from Limpopo said the founding president’s supporters would not agree to a compromise candidate.

Cope, which has been decimated by leadership squabbles and poor financial management, has failed dismally to build public interest in its congress, in spite of attracting 1,3-million votes in last year’s general election.