Expelled COPE members ousted

Phetane Rapetwane

DELEGATES at the Congress of the People (COPE) national congress in Boksburg dealt a blow to the expelled Mbhazima Shilowa faction, resolving that public representatives who were part of the party but had since not renewed their membership be removed from their national and provincial posts.

The congress took place despite failed attempts by expelled members from the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Gauteng to interdict the provincial congresses which led to the weekend's national congress.

COPE secretary-general Lyndall Shope-Mafole said it was unconstitutional to be a public representative without belonging to a political party.