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IN HAPPIER TIMES: Cope president Mosiuoa Lekota and his rival Mbazima Shilowa. The Constitutional Court has upheld Lekota's dismissal of Shilowa. Photo: Simphiwe Nkwali

Speaking to journalists in Cape Town yesterday following a Constitutional Court ruling that upheld Lekota's dismissal of Shilowa from the party, the triumphant Cope president said the next step was to fill the vacant seat left by his political enemy in the National Assembly.

Shilowa, who was fired by Lekota in February 2011, had taken the party to the highest court in the land, hoping that it would intervene.

But his application was dismissed yesterday with costs by the Constitutional Court.

Lekota said he would move with speed to replace Shilowa as a Cope MP.

"Parliament is short of one of its members. We've got to fill that gap," said Lekota.

"All of these shenanigans that he's been busy with, have been going on for more than a year now. He has no place in Cope . he's no longer a factor in Cope."

But Shilowa's camp, which still refers to itself as "the leadership of Cope", insisted that the "the Lekota faction" would not be able to replace Shilowa in the National Assembly.

"The Lekota faction will still be unable to neither fill Shilowa's seat nor be able to remove other leaders as the dispute has effectively handicapped the party," said spokesman Sipho Ngwema.

Lekota also replaced former MP Hilda Ndude, another Shilowa ally who was fired in February amid allegations of mismanagement of funds, with the little known Johnny Huang.

He said the Constitutional Court ruling also meant that Shilowa would be breaking the law if he tried to address any structure of Cope or attempted to undertake any activity in the name of the party.

Shilowa's expulsion now paves the way for the party to hold regional and provincial congresses between July and August, leading to an elective national congress in October.

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Wed May 22 07:43:47 SAST 2013 ::

May 9, 2012

Makhosini0408

Is it a case of, its my party or its my house, ungadlaleli la (do not play here)? Clearly, the disgruntled are not coping.
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May 9, 2012

imthegreatest

political jokes of our time after Mangope, Mphephu, Mangosutho, terblanche...............,
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May 9, 2012

candilious

And.............................
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May 9, 2012

JajazQueen

The question is - does Cope have a place in this country?

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May 9, 2012

RobinH

Mr Lekota, you are now vying for top comedian spot with Mr Manyi. Your wannabe party is a complete joke. Shilowa may have no place in Cope, but I would venture that Cope has no place in our political bunfight.
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May 9, 2012

Rockwell

Let me remind all of you who have are suffering from amnesia that COPE is the 3rd largest party in this country judging from the performance of the last general elections in 2009 and the sits it occupies in the national assembly. So Cope has a place and a role to play in the democratic discourse of this nation. Now that's a reality and you better get used to it..
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May 9, 2012

RobinH

Rockwell. Much water has flowed under many bridges since that overrated opening splurge. Reality? He He. Ja right.
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May 9, 2012

amokachi

I think Mbazima should re-apply for his job of being a security guard.
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May 9, 2012

Deepstick-C

DOES COPE STILL EXIST? THIS MICKEY-MOUSE PARTY WILL ALWAYS BE A JOKE. WHY NOT JOIN DA ONCE AND FOR ALL AND KNEEL TO THE MADAM AND HER TEA LADIES?
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May 9, 2012

SteveBiko

fACT: you cant cope without ANC
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