CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE SHAKEN BY LEADERSHIP RIFT

UNCLAS PRETORIA 001409 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PGOV SF SUBJECT: CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE SHAKEN BY LEADERSHIP RIFT REF: A. 08 PRETORIA 2650 ¶B. CAPE TOWN 0033 ¶C. PRETORIA 543 ¶D. PRETORIA 544 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) The Congress of the People (COPE),South Africa's newest parliamentary opposition party, was hit by two high-level resignations this week. Second Deputy President Lynda Odendaal and Head of Elections Simon Grindrod handed in their resignations to the national leadership. Both Odendaal and Grinrod cited tension and confusion within the party as the reason for their resignations. COPE President Mosiuoa Lekota, Deputy President Mbahazima Shilowa and Parliamentary Leader Mvume Dandala all denied that there is a leadership rift within COPE. End summary. -------------- Grindrod Blasts COPE's "ANC Mentality" -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Simon Grindrod, a former Deputy Leader of the Independent Democrats (ID),was given the position of Head of Elections shortly after he left the ID and joined COPE. Grindrod complained to the press this week about the undemocratic culture among COPE leadership. Grindrod implied that during the election campaign, COPE leadership confused voters by making frequent references to former President Thabo Mbeki while Mbeki himself remained loyal to the African National Congress (ANC). In resigning, Grindrod cited the leadership struggle between President Mosiuoa Lekota and Deputy President Mbhazima Shilowa as the main source of hostility within the party. Grindrod also said that lack of discussion on appointments caused tension among COPE loyalists. In the case of Western Cape, Gindrod said Allan Boesak was appointed as the candidate for Western Cape Premier without any discussion within the COPE leadership committee. What was even worse, according to Grindrod, was that COPE leadership consulted extensively with the ANC, rather than within its ranks, on its election plan for Western Cape. Grindrod also charged that the former ANC members within COPE make the final decisions within COPE and exclude non-ANC veterans. -------------- Odendaal Exit Amplifies Leadership Tremors -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Former IT executive Lynda Odendaal's appointment as second Deputy President of COPE surprised many people at the time because Odendaal had no previous political experience. Analysts saw her as a token white female, more of a symbol of the multi-racial, gender-neutral image the party wanted to project than as a policy presence. Commentators see Odendaal's resignation this week as a shock to the party and a blow to its image. In discussing her resignation, Odendaal expressed concerns that dovetail with Grindrod's comments regarding the confusion surrounding leadership. In a local radio interview, Odendaal linked Deputy President Mbahzima Shilowa to a dissident group within COPE allegedly attempting to oust Lekota. -------------- COPE Moves to Limit Damage -------------- ¶4. (U) Both Lekota and Shilowa addressed a press conference on July 9. They claimed there are no leadership struggles within the party. COPE parliamentary leader Mvume Dandala also rejected reports of a party rift as "false rumors." COPE Spokesman Philip Dexter dismissed Grindrod's comments as "a lot of smoke" and added that Grindrod should have raised Q"a lot of smoke" and added that Grindrod should have raised his concerns within the party before going to the press. It remains unclear who will replace Odendaal as second deputy president, but Leonard Ramatlakane is expected to take over Odendaal's seat in Parliament. CONNERS