Madisha’s axing another episode in a series of leadership battles: Analyst

Political Analyst, Ralph Mathekga, says Willie Madisha’s alleged membership termination from the Congress of the People (Cope) is another episode in a series of leadership battles that have engulfed the party since its inception.

Cope’s National Committee decided to terminate the membership of the party’s deputy president and secretary for elections, Mzwandile Nhleko.

Madisha and Nhleko were allegedly served with the termination notice on Sunday, signed by the party’s president, Mosiuoa Lekota, and the secretary-general, Erick Mohlapamaswi.

The pair is accused of convening unconstitutional meetings, abusing state resources and acting in positions that were not approved by the Congress National Committee (CNC).

Madisha, who will likely lose his seat in Parliament, and Nhleko have the right to appeal the decision within 14 days.

Analyst Mathekga says Cope has devoted a lot of its time to leadership problems, which have left the organisation weak and incoherent.

“It is just another demise and low for Cope. It might not completely disappear now but certainly; it is missing out on an opportunity to consolidate and be a formidable opposition party.”

Mathekga says Cope should be preparing itself for next year’s general election instead of giving most of its attention to factional battles.

He says they might lose those voters who had hope in small political parties.

“Cope is a disappointment when it comes to the relationship between top leaders of the party.”

Cope has been marred by controversy since August last year when two warring factions emerged, one in favour of the party president, Lekota, and the other of his deputy, Madisha.

This instability led to physical altercations at a press conference in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, that was meant to address divisions within the party.