IN THE face of reports of a power struggle among its top brass, Cope's national committee says the current political challenges offer the seven-month-old party an "opportunity to renew and strengthen itself".

IN THE face of reports of a power struggle among its top brass, Cope's national committee says the current political challenges offer the seven-month-old party an "opportunity to renew and strengthen itself".

Cope leaders, including president Mosiuoa Lekota and deputy president Mbhazima Shilowa, have denied reports of a leadership crisis within the party.

Shilowa, punted as Lekota's replacement, said he fully supported Lekota and that the party should concentrate on building up its structures.

Cope leader in Parliament Mvume Dandala said Cope had a "collective leadership" culture, adding that he had "no idea" why the media thought the party leadership was divided.

The meeting of the party's bigwigs at its headquarters in Braamfontein continues today amid the resignation of the party's second deputy president, Lynda Odendaal, and its national head of elections, Simon Grindrod, who accused the party leadership of intolerance and idolising former president Thabo Mbeki.