Former national spokesperson of Congress of the People (Cope) Dennis Bloem has resigned citing a lack of confidence in the party’s trajectory.
Bloem’s resignation has triggered speculation, however, he has undertaken to reveal the reasons behind his departure during a media briefing in Kempton Park on Saturday.
“I will hold a press conference tomorrow and I will tell the whole country why I resigned from Cope,” he said on Friday.
Amid the complex landscape of politics in the country, Cope arose as a beacon of hope for many in 2008, founded by former ANC members seeking an alternative political path.
However, recent events suggest that this beacon may be flickering, if not dimming altogether.
The party, once seen as a potential contender to govern, now finds itself grappling with internal strife, leadership woes, and questionable integrity.
Its image was for the past few years marred by infighting, creating an impression of a party at odds with itself.
The suspension of figures such as Willie Madisha, Bloem, and Mzwandile Hleko exposed internal divisions that only weaken the party’s credibility.
Such discord reduced its ability to present a united front to the public, eroding trust in its leadership and policies.
Havoc rocked the party again earlier in 2023 when a media briefing ended in a fistfight between rival factions.
The scenes of a brawl suggested a party struggling to manage even basic interactions, and civility within its own ranks.
Cope was subjected to further embarrassment when former councillor Murunwa Makwarela was found to have committed qualifications fraud.
After Makwarela was elected mayor of the City of Tshwane, it emerged that he was unfit to hold public office because he had been disqualified by a court of law due to insolvency.
He later produced a letter confirming that he was rehabilitated and was allowed back in office to resume his mayoral duties.
However, it emerged that he had fabricated the certificate and handed himself over to the police. He is currently out on R10 000 bail.
Such incidents not only reflect on the party’s diligence but also question its ethical standards and ability to make informed decisions.
As the party’s troubles escalate, its relevance in the political landscape becomes questionable.
In July, rumours spread that the party had been deregistered as a political party. Although the Independent Electoral Commission refuted the claims, the mere existence of such rumours casts doubt on the party’s stability.
As the country approaches election day, Cope’s significance might be reduced to a mere label. Its rapid accumulation of challenges in less than five years leaves one pondering about its future, if there is any.
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