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Cope battle in legislature

TROUBLE AHEAD: The Gauteng legislature is involved in a power struggle between Cope members, including Moses Mayekiso and Ndzipho Kalipa. PHOTO: GPL
TROUBLE AHEAD: The Gauteng legislature is involved in a power struggle between Cope members, including Moses Mayekiso and Ndzipho Kalipa. PHOTO: GPL

THE GAUTENG legislature is embroiled in a bitter power struggle between members of the Congress of the People.

The legislature stands accused of interfering in decisions taken by Cope caucus leader Ndzipho Kalipa and chief whip Moses Mayekiso, disregarding its own rules in the process.

These accusations come after the legislature agreed to no longer recognise Kalipa as caucus leader, after having received instructions to this effect from party leader Mosiuoa Lekota.

Kalipa yesterday told Sowetan that legislature procedures dictated that Cope caucus members elect their own leader without interference from the party and the legislature.

The legislature, he said, could only be informed of such decisions. He claimed this was not done.

Cope's caucus is deeply divided, with Kalipa, Mayekiso and another member, Clara Motau, said to have formed an opposing faction to that of Cope acting general secretary Lyndall Mafole-Shope, Hermene Koorts and Tertia Wessels.

A letter and an e-mail Sowetan has seen indicate that Maseko and the secretary to the legislature, Peter Skosana, had in September and October exchanged communication with Lekota about the party's rightful caucus leader. Neither Kalipa nor Mayekiso knew of this communication.

In a letter dated September 26 Lekota requests Maseko to recognise Tertia Wessels as Cope's rightful caucus leader, adding that Kalipa had since been axed from his position by the party's Congress National Committee during a meeting held on June 28 and 29.

In the e-mail, dated October 19, Skosana indicated that the legislature accepts Wessels as the party's caucus leader.

Skosana further agrees to set aside the dismissal of office manager Trudie Prinsloo, who was found guilty earlier this year of having worked as a mole for another political party.

Skosana yesterday declined to comment pending a meeting set for tomorrow between legislature speaker Lindiwe Maseko and Cope members.

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