Back Congress of the People Afrikaans Congress of the People German Congreso del Pueblo Spanish Kansankongressi Finnish Congrès du peuple French Congreso do Pobo Galician Congresso del Popolo Italian 国民会議 (南アフリカ) Japanese Congress of the People Dutch Congress of the People NB
Congress of the People | |
|---|---|
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| President | Mosiuoa Lekota |
| Chairperson | Teboho Loate |
| Secretary-General | Diratsagae Alfred Kganare |
| Spokesperson | vacant |
| Deputy President | vacant |
| Deputy Secretary General | vacant |
| Founders | |
| Founded | 16 December 2008 |
| Split from | African National Congress |
| Headquarters | 34–36 Fricker Road, Illovo, Gauteng |
| Student wing | COPE Students Movement |
| Youth wing | COPE Youth Movement |
| Women's wing | COPE Women's Movement |
| Business and Professionals' wing | COPE Business and Professionals |
| Ideology | Social democracy Social liberalism Progressivism |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| National affiliation | Collective for Democracy |
| Colours | Yellow Red |
| Slogan | Reliable, Accountable, Incorruptible |
| National Assembly seats | 2 / 400 |
| NCOP seats | 0 / 90 |
| Provincial Legislatures | 0 / 430 |
| Party flag | |
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| Website | |
| www | |
The Congress of the People (COPE) is a South African political party formed in 2008 by former members of the African National Congress (ANC).[1] The party was founded by former ANC members Mosiuoa Lekota, Mbhazima Shilowa and Mluleki George to contest the 2009 general election. The party was announced following a national convention held in Sandton on 1 November 2008, and was founded at a congress held in Bloemfontein on 16 December 2008. The name echoes the 1955 Congress of the People at which the Freedom Charter was adopted by the ANC and other parties, a name strongly contested by the ANC in a legal move dismissed by the Pretoria High Court.[2]
In the 2009 general election, the party received 1,311,027 votes and a 7.42% share of the vote. Following the 2009 elections, COPE experienced a leadership dispute between factions supporting Mosiuoa Lekota and others supporting Mbhazima Shilowa,[3] that led to a 2013 court battle,[4] and continued into 2014.[5] After the 2014 election, COPE was left with only three seats in the National Assembly, down from 30 seats in 2009.[6]
Despite its reduced stature, the party has joined with the much larger Democratic Alliance (DA) and several other smaller parties to co-govern Nelson Mandela Bay, Johannesburg and Tshwane after the 2016 municipal elections.
- ^ "New party to challenge ANC rule". BBC News. 16 December 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "Cope wins name battle". The Times. UK. Archived from the original on 21 December 2008.
- ^ "'Infighting necessary' - Cope". www.sowetanlive.co.za. 13 May 2011. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ Shanti Aboobaker (27 October 2013). "Shilowa row goes back to court". IOL News. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ Khulekani Magubane (7 January 2014). "COPE factions headed for court battle". www.bdlive.co.za. Archived from the original on 14 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ "Only COPE has lost more seats than ANC". BDlive. 9 May 2014. Archived from the original on 11 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.