LEKOTA'S ASSISTANT TALKS PARTY LEADERSHIP AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 002709

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2018
TAGS: KJUS PGOV KDEM SF
SUBJECT: LEKOTA'S ASSISTANT TALKS PARTY LEADERSHIP AND
LOGISTICS

REF: PRETORIA 2650

PRETORIA 00002709 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: DEPUTY POLITICAL COUNSELOR MADELINE Q. SEIDENSTRICKER FO
R REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

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Summary
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1. (C) Mosiuoa Lekota's personal assistant, Dr. Tseliso
Phomane, talked with Poloff about the Congress of the
People's (COPE) leadership situation and logistics ahead of
the party's manifesto conference on December 13. Phomane was
confident that Lekota would emerge as the party's leader
following the conference and confirmed former President Thabo
Mbeki is involved behind the scenes in the new party. If
Lekota fails to win the leadership next week -- or fails to
concede that the will of the party's delegates points to
different leader for the party -- it could open up deep
fissures within the organization that undermine its electoral
prospects. End Summary.

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Lekota's Assistant Discusses Lekota, Mbeki, and Logistics
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2. (C) Mosiuoa Lekota's personal assistant said the former
Defense Minister "has to be the leader" elected at the COPE
manifesto launch beginning December 13. Tseliso Phomane,
Lekota's self-described assistant, organizer, and health
adviser, told Poloff at a lunch on December 11 that COPE
would elect its party leadership on December 16 and that the
results would reflect "the will of the delegates." As much
as COPE's leadership believes the results must "emerge from
the bottom up," however, Phomane said there will be
guaranteed spots for Lekota, Phillip Dexter, and Smuts
Ngonyama. (Note: Phomane did not say whether there would be
a guaranteed spot for former Gauteng premier Sam Shilowa.
Some journalists, notably those with the Sunday Independent,
have speculated that a rift has emerged between Lekota and
Shilowa. However, Shilowa continues to speak on behalf of
the party and said this week that COPE would "win big" at the
polls. End Note.) Phomane said that as the face of the
party, Lekota is "who the people call and ask for, who the
people want to lead the party."


3. (C) Phomane said COPE is consulting with Mbeki regularly
but does not want that to be common knowledge because
"Mbeki's legacy is very mixed." (Note: For more information
on Mbeki involvement see Reftel. End Note.) He said Mbeki
supports COPE's leaders personally because "he is friends
with them" and has provided input on policy documents and
statements. By stressing that Lekota would be the leader of
COPE, Phomane made it clear that a last minute surprise
candidate -- such as Mbeki -- for the party leadership would
be unlikely. (Note: In a separate conversation, President
Unit policy analyst Thabileng Mothabi told Poloff that former
Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is likely to join the
new party soon. End Note.)


4. (C) Phomane noted that COPE is having trouble finding a
permanent home because the party has limited funds. He noted
that the party was housed in an office in Sandton for two
months, but has since been moving from building to building
because it lacks the funds for a permanent place. Currently,
COPE is working from an office near the Morningside Wedge
shopping complex. He said he has been handling all the
technical aspects of the party from the office, including the
registration site for the manifesto conference beginning on
Qregistration site for the manifesto conference beginning on
December 12. Phomane noted that COPE was confident it would
win the court case placed by the African National Congress
(ANC) that claimed COPE's name infringed on the ANC's brand.
(Note: Phomane proved correct as on December 12 the Pretoria
High Court dismissed the application saying the COPE name
does not convey that the party is actually the 1955 Congress
of the People. End Note.) He also trumpeted the party's
by-election results in Western Cape, saying that it was
"amazing" a party only in existence for two months could
organize such a positive outcome so quickly.

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Comment
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PRETORIA 00002709 002.2 OF 002




5. (C) If Phomane's statements are correct, Lekota will
emerge as COPE's leader next week. However, failure by
Lekota to agree to election results should they go against
him could rupture the young party and dim its electoral
prospects. Phomane's remarks underscore how funding
continues to be an issue for the party in terms of organizing
a permanent office and setting up critical technical
components for its campaign. If backers such as Mbeki and
Mlambo-Ngcuka are as involved as has been rumored, the party
may be able to use that political clout to attract support
from donors in the business community.
BOST