COPE president Mosiuoa Lekota yesterday assured party members that he would not let other people lead Cope, until its congress had decided on a new leadership.

The congress is scheduled  for September 30 to October  2.

Addressing Cope delegates  at the second eThekwini   regional general congress in  Durban, Lekota told the members that he was not giving up on the party.

Lekota also revealed that on two occasions, plans were hatched to have him step aside and let other people run  the party.

He said this was after it  became clear that there were two camps within the organisation.

Lekota said he would not go out to the streets and  shacks  to look for someone to lead the  party, but was  taking the  responsibility for the party  which he was  instrumental for  its formation.

For months now Lekota and  his deputy Mbhazima  Shilowa  have been locked in a leadership battle that has  led to  several court cases.

Each time Lekota has  come out triumphant, but  Shilowa  has not given up on  stopping him from leading  the  party.

The latest battle was dismissed last week when  Shilowa  tried to stop Lekota  from replacing Mvume Dandala as  the party’s leader in  Parliament.