/ 17 December 2010

Cope delegates storm youth festival

Cope Delegates Storm Youth Festival

Delegates from the embattled Congress of the People’s (Cope) conference descended on the 17th World Youth Festival in Pretoria on Friday, attempting to hold their own conference there.

Hundreds of Cope delegates in their bright yellow party T-shirts swooped on the Tshwane show grounds for the “secondary conference”.

Police spokesperson Captain Louise Reed confirmed the incident saying the youth festival organisers had booked the venue but the Cope members then attempted to use part of the facility.

“A scuffle broke out but it has been sorted out and the Cope delegates have left the scene,” said Reed. A number of buses were seen leaving the scene by mid-morning, transporting the Cope delegates away from the show grounds. — Sapa