COMMENTS FROM COPE SENIOR LEADERS SHOW DIVISIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 002254

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2019
TAGS: PGOV SF
SUBJECT: COMMENTS FROM COPE SENIOR LEADERS SHOW DIVISIONS
RUN DEEP

PRETORIA 00002254 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Madeline Seidenstricker for r
easons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Summary: The Congress of the People (COPE),which
marked its first anniversary on November 1, remains divided
between competing factions who support either Mosiuoa Lekota
or Mbhazima Shilowa. Competing newspaper stories in "City
Press" and the "Sunday Independent" recently underscored the
party's rifts as Lekota and Shilowa's close ally, Mvume
Dandala, offered their assessments of the party's current
state of play. End Summary.


2. (SBU) In a front page story in "City Press" on November
1, COPE President Mosiuoa Lekota argued that the party he
helped to found is not doing enough to serve the public's
interests. Lekota said COPE parliamentarians have failed to
challenge the ruling African National Congress (ANC) on
sensitive issues and warned that if legislators do not "shape
up," the Democratic Alliance (DA) would beat COPE in the 2011
local elections. Moffet Mofokeng and George Matlala wrote
that COPE held an emergency meeting in mid-October at which
Lekota told COPE's parliamentary leader Mvume Dandala that
the party "had done nothing to set itself apart in the
National Assembly." He argued that the DA is a better public
watchdog and suggested that parliamentarians write monthly
reports to demonstrate how they are spending their time in
Cape Town. Lekota also told party members at the meeting
that COPE's leader in Parliament should work with other
opposition parties to ensure the ANC is held accountable. He
asserted that this would "set the scene for new political
alliances ahead of the election." (Note: On the topic of
political alliances, DA leader Helen Zille has reportedly
tasked Ryan Coetzee, who was instrumental in formulating the
party's campaign strategy earlier this year and for compiling
the party's polling data, with finding ways in which the DA
and COPE can work together ahead of the 2011 local elections.
End Note.)


3. (SBU) Meanwhile, in an editorial in the "Sunday
Independent," Dandala drew a different picture of the party.
He acknowledged some of the party's shortcomings, but did not
point to the legislature as a problem and argued that the
future still looks bright for the party. Dandala admitted
that COPE has been slow in creating a unique culture and
noted the challenge remains for COPE to rid itself of the
impression of being a pseudo ANC. He wrote, "The observation
that COPE has battled to define itself in positive terms is
not far fetched. It is a criticism that COPE is taking
seriously." Dandala said that the party's national committee
was correct to point out shortcomings in the handling of
leadership issues within the party and argued that COPE will
learn from such shortcomings. He penned, "What we know today
is that there is a commitment amongst our leaders and people
to work together to correct those things that may hinder the
progress of our movement." Dandala noted that the party is
building branches and working hard to consolidate support.
He claimed, "In the long run, that (building branches) is
what will inspire confidence among South Africans, when they
see COPE involved in their day-to-day lot. Similarly, the
establishment of our constituency offices will ensure that we
live up to our promise to open a channel between people and
their representatives." He ended by writing that COPE's
Qtheir representatives." He ended by writing that COPE's
positive message and ability to connect with voters at the
branch level will ensure that the party grows into the future.


4. (SBU) In a separate development that also indicates where
COPE stands more than a year after its creation, COPE Western
Cape provincial leader Allan Boesak resigned from the party
because of what he termed "the infighting and disorder that
have plagued the organization since the election." He warned
that the "mud is rising within the party." Boesak was a
controversial COPE figure -- partly because of his 1999
conviction of fraud -- from the time he joined the
organization, and reaction to his departure was surprisingly
positive. (Note: A majority of commentators on both the
"Mail and Guardian" and the IOL news pages were glad to see
him go. Even Desmond Tutu said that he was glad to see
Boesak leave politics and return to his religious endeavors.
End Note.)


5. (C) Comment: Lekota's statements do not demonstrate what
Dandala termed as the commitment amongst COPE's leaders to
cooperate on difficult issues. Lekota instead seems to be
ready to cast blame for the party's failures now and in the
future. His stance probably stems from the fact that he was

PRETORIA 00002254 002.2 OF 002


not selected to go to Parliament himself but rather was
"asked" to build COPE's branches across the country.
Dandala's message is an appeal to South Africans to retain
the hope many felt when the party began last year. However,
Dandala lacks the political credentials to withstand an
attack from someone with the experience of Lekota. As the
infighting continues, messages about the party's hopeful
future are losing their impact. End Comment.
GIPS