A NO-HOLDS barred letter from former Cope spin doctor Sipho Ngwema to former second deputy president Lynda Odendaal is the subject of debate on social network Facebook.

Ngwema accuses Odendaal of being a political novice who never deserved to be elected to the party's leadership. Ngwema says Odendaal found herself "lost in black politics".

He says she became so paranoid that she demanded to be assigned bodyguards after claiming that "strange cars followed her travelling convoy".

Ngwema says he knew the day Odendaal was elected that "Cope was beginning to flounder. You can imagine my shock when I was informed that your name would be among the top office bearers."

The Ngwema letter also lays bare details of Odendaal's alleged hunger for power and disdain for Cope parliamentary leader Mvume Dandala.

Ngwema also turns the tables on Odendaal who accused Cope first deputy leader Mbhazima Shilowa of factionalism when she resigned from her position.

"I am deeply hurt by your utterances and sheer dishonesty, Lynda. Why would you vilify a man that embraced you and forced us as ordinary members of Cope to prefer one leader over the other?"

Ngwema's Facebook page boasts some influential people who have access to the letter.

They include Andile Nkuhlu, UDM leader Bantu Holomisa, Cope secretary Charlotte Lobe, newspaper editor Jovial Rantao, Leornard Ramatlakana, Shilowa, Dandala, Onkgopotse Tabane, Phillip Dexter, Sipho Nghona, broadcaster Siki Mgabadeli and former Cope chief of elections Simon Grindrod.

l For the full letter from Sipho Ngwema to Lynda Odendaal visit www.sowetan.co.za