REFILWE MEKOA
Cope members who announced this weekend that they were returning to the ANC didn’t appear on the party’s candidate list.
According to Cope’s national chairperson Pakes Dikgetsi, the 19 defectors were not elected to represent Cope in government in the next term. It was reported that 80% of parliamentary Cope members will be returning to the ANC. Dikgetsi says they are happy with the announcement.
“Irrespective of the lies, speculations and rumours that they are busy spreading the fact is that they have failed to return as members of parliament. We wish them well in their new adventures wherever that they go and in some most instances some of them were no longer active as Cope members,” he says.
Dikgetsi says Cope is stronger and ready for the elections. He says they have been welcoming new members and will be surprising many people when the elections results are announced.
“As long as there are people who still have links to the ANC leaves the Congress of the People, the better. It has always been our mission that we must build a completely new alternative party that has got no influences in any other political party,” he said.
