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COPE RIVALS: Mosiuoa Lekota and Mbhazima Shilowa

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Sowetan was reliably informed by insiders in both Cope and the DA that Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota has penned a paper in which he calls for increased cooperation with the DA in the Independent Democrats style.

With floor-crossing laws a thing of the past, the ID last year reached an agreement with the DA that its members could take out dual membership of both parties, allowing ID members of parliament to join the DA caucus without losing their seats.

A DA insider said: "Key people will come over to the DA... The extent of cooperation between Cope and the DA, and the goodwill, is a sign that the future of Cope's verligtes, or enlightened ones, is in the DA, including Lekota."

A Cope official backed the story, saying the party was "toast" now that Mazibuko had been elected, and that it would have no choice but to join the DA.

But Lekota told Sowetan Cope's central national committee wanted cooperation with all opposition parties.

"The decision was that I must lead an initiative to engage in discussion with all opposition parties. I drafted a paper saying we must approach the initiative with open minds ... to have a round table discussion ... including the DA, but not only the DA," Lekota said.

"Some of the people (in Cope) might not have taken kindly to this and they might have distorted it in telling you," Lekota said.

Lekota also faces a December court case against his rival, Mbhazima Shilowa, who is opposed to cooperation with the DA.

Shilowa has been out of action since February when Lekota won an interdict preventing him from describing himself as Cope's president.

Shilowa's application to overturn this interdict should have been heard in August but was postponed to December after Lekota's lawyer fell ill.

If he wins the Shilowa faction of Cope "will never assimilate into the DA", its second deputy president, Zale Madonsela, said.

Madonsela said Lekota had initiated last year's co-operation talks between the DA, ID and Cope.

"The DA and ID continued together when our rift intensified but said they would accommodate Lekota later. We support affirmative action and BEE, which Lekota and the DA don't," Madonsela said.

DA federal chairman James Selfe said he was not aware of any bid by Cope to take out DA membership.

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Sat May 25 17:35:04 SAST 2013 ::

Oct 31, 2011

LAWAAI

Mr Lekota good to hear from you I'm glad that you are still working very hard to shape the future of the country
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Oct 31, 2011

Hobo

We will see if it is the zebras the stripes are there. not sheep in leopard skin
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Oct 31, 2011

Zulumacansi

That's fine Terror. Patricia de Lille loaded all ID supporters into the DA and in return she got Capetown Mayorship. Terror you can do it also. Bathwale ngeqoma ubayise ku DA abalandeli bakho maybe you will also get Premiership of the Western Cape or the Mayorship of Mangaung.
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Oct 31, 2011

Vhamsanda

The end of COPE finally.
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Oct 31, 2011

TupacAmaru

Are these brothers still around?
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Oct 31, 2011

KgarebeYaMopedi

atleast then the anc will have competition
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Oct 31, 2011

asaowe

i 4see end of COPE, withdrawal of white ppl 4rm the party, Zille is messingup the party tht wl be a language, DA to go down. FF+ to gain more white voters, hahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
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Oct 31, 2011

HOOKMEUP

That is a good move we tired of empty promises
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Oct 31, 2011

NDA

@ HOOKMEUP


Good move indeed.

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Oct 31, 2011

DJWinner

That will be the start of the end of DA, we didn't chase these people out of ANC for no reason. I forsee more infightings, Lekota trying to oust Zille to lead DA. Black people will support Lekota and white people will support Zille. At the end Zille will win and it will become evident that the DA is indeed a whites party. I see this one coming....
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