The prodigal son has gone home. The re-defection of Mlungisi Hlongwane from Cope to the ANC should be an act of encouragement to others like him who never had any intention of working towards building Cope into a formidable political party but to serve their own sinister agendas. It is important to reiterate that Cope has been consistent in its message to political careerists and opportunists that they are not welcome. Cope has committed itself to attracting men and women of unquestionable ethical and moral sensibilities and who are inspired and determined to discharge their public duty to our people without undue consideration for self-interest
As Cope members we must show our gratitude to Hlongwane for bringing to our attention “that there are many in Cope who have pre-ordained objectives that have very little to do with the overall objective of the development of our country”. We should identify these characters and reject them. Our duty as members of a party still in its infancy is to ensure that we build a party on a solid foundation so that we may withstand turbulent political hurricanes going into the future.
It was rather unfortunate that in his desperate attempt to justify his political prostitution and discredit Cope, Hlongwane had to resort to making absurd claims of tribalism, racialism, undemocratic processes and so on. During his press briefing he said that: “It is regrettable that there are Xhosa-speaking Cope leaders who have taken a conscious decision that Cope must be a predominantly Xhosa-led organisation.” Any person in full command of his mental faculties and having some semblance of respect for the truth would know that only two Xhosas form part of the top 12 members of the Congress National Committee. He deliberately ignores the fact that though Dr Mvume Dandala might be Xhosa, the president of Cope, Mosiuoa Lekota, is Sotho, and his two deputies are Afrikaner and Tsonga.
He claims to have refused the premiership candidacy of Gauteng when in fact he was asked to recuse himself because he was suspected of working with the ANC. We wish him well at the ANC where he belongs together with all others who came to Cope to pursue their personal interests.
We hope the ANC keep their word in welcoming others after the elections. Those who will soon be overwhelmed by their disappointment of having dismally failed to fulfil their personal agenda at Cope. We encourage them to return to their home in the ANC to further advance those narrow interests within a fertile environment for corruption, careerism and opportunism.
The formation of any new political party will ordinarily attract such unsavoury characters who have nothing but the pursuit of all things contrary to the demands of the people they should be serving. It is indeed flattering to Cope that Hlongwane has come to the realisation that there was no tolerance for political careerists, opportunists, the incompetent and factionalists, thought he may not publicly admit this self-evident truth. He will be joined by Dan Kotzer who Cope has kicked to the curb for promoting factionalism in the Western Cape.
i’m guessing you’re voting cope?
We wish you well tooo Son of T.Mbeki….. and to quote you “Cope has committed itself to attracting men and women of unquestionable ethical and moral sensibilities and who are inspired and determined to discharge their public duty to our people without undue consideration for self-interest” We wish Allen Boskak well too!!
God speed and Glory!
Was Mvume Dandala elected by the people in a transparent, democratic manner?
Malema Said it better “Mvume Dandala is a leader for hire”.
Sentletse, the learning process and individual development starts when we acknowledge other people’s points of view and honestly engage them. Denial of other people’s experiences doesn’t elevate us nor does it diminish those who do not agree with us.You can deny Mlungisi’s experience at Cope as much as you like but it will never change what he thinks of Cope. Don’t you think you need to spend more time writing about the virtues of Cope rather than worrying about what others say about your organisation?It’s bad marketing to spend more time and energy on the perceived negatives of your organisation. Just a word of advice, take it,don’t take it.
There is nothing wrong with Hlongwane choosing to go back to the ANC, after all teh ANC is all what all of you happen to be at some syage in your lives. You did not give away your ANC t-shirts, caps adn regalia, including the documents, in the name of heirtage and so on. It is not surprisng, after elections, ye are going to welcome you back. We will also thank you fo rcreating the political atmposphere that you have created towards the elections.
As for those who went to that organisation without having been politically active, it was opportunistic of tehm to think that they ar goign to paradise, where there is no sin and al lis well and perfect.
Well said, Sentletse.
Indeed, Hlongwane needs all the best wishes he needs right now. I was moved by his honesty (obtainable from all that thoughtless mantra about the hegemony of one language group over others within COPE) that he had come to the realization that COPE is no longer home for him and his ilk. Wishing him all the best as he retreats to his former party.
Where art have thou been, Sentletse? Good to read your blogs again, pal!
“…an act of encouragement to others like him who never had any intention of working towards building Cope into a formidable political party but to serve their own sinister agendas”
epitome of contradiction…”prodigal” is exactly the middle name of your mbeshikota leaders…your party is infiltrated with power hungry leaders who have no regard of democratic processes. they couldn’t tolerate the results in polokwane, and now they can’t practice it within your lil party.
in fact, hlongwane is just a drop in the ocean, come 24 april all those disgruntled members who left the anc thinking that there were moving to a holy party will be leaving mbeshikota in masses, they’ll leave you strangling yourselves for all 10 seats that you’re going to get in the next administration.
you shall remain angry!
The only “Xhosa party” is the ANC. Putting up a token Pedi as President, and a token Zulu as presidential candidate does not change that.
And for the life of me I can’t see why all the parties are making all this fuss about defectors. As Steven Friedman has said the motives of ANY politician who defects at this late stage could be suspect as being for “postion” not “principle”.
I read your article at least three times to see if one could discern any factual basis for the accusations you level at Hlongwane. Sadly, the closest you came to providing fact was when you indicate that Hlongwane had to recuse himself when the position of candidate of Gauteng was discussed. But that does not prove that he was suspected of working for the ANC, all it seems to prove is that he was nominated or his name was being discussed as a possible ‘Premier’ candidate. If he was suspected as a ‘mole’ working for the ANC why did COPE allow him to be No. 2 on its Gauteng list? Couldn’t they have found a way to keep him off the list or low down on the list by using his position as head of Elections as an excuse that he needs to remain and build the party? Did you read Hlongwane’s Press Statement, or are you too emotionally devastated to do some research? If you read it you would note that its not only ehtnic agendas that are revealed, he also claims that some are using this agenda to further their own ambitions. Why did Hlongwane, if he was such an opportunist, leave after the lists was completed, he could have secured a good position in the ANC if he left just prior to the list being completed?
Recognise the problems that are in COPE and don’t just rush to label everyone an opportunist!
It is such a challenge to respond to the Hlongwane issue as much as I do understand that he had ambitions to be a premier which were taken away from him in an unfair and democratic way I’m also dissapointed with him that it would then appear that is what he actually joined COPE for because if it was about the defence of democracy that vision has still not been achieved and it is indeed achievable so he wouldn’t have left. Secondly, for him to reduce the whole issue to tribalism was disgusting to say the least because he knows for a fact that there are Zulu, Sotho and other ethnic groups who are as destructive as any Xhosa speaking person in COPE as well there are good Zulu, Sotho and also Xhosa speaking people in COPE, for me, it shows, how much of a disaster it would have been to have him as a premier candidate, he would have divided us on tribal lines rather than unifying us. It is also unfortunate that people are willing to sell their souls for money, I understand that he was in seevere financial distress, I also know that we are different as individuals, some of us crack very quickly and some of us have high tolerance levels when we are under financial distress, for him to be offered that his housing contract will be sorted out when he leaves COPE by the ANC
Sentletse, my brother.
Your words always resonate with truth and clarity!
Sipho can you explain to me what kind of a leader in his first encounter in a new organisation starts by counting heads. How many speak this or that language.Honestly I think Mlungisi speech was dictated to him, personally I still believe deep down in his heart he remains COPE.I was there at the Sandton Convention Centre when he addressed the National Convention. There I am sure he spoke from the heart.
To me Cope is nothing but an ill-conceived formation by those who cant stand to be led because they think they know too much. Advancing religion as a shiled to tribalism and dictatorship and parading God as as a servant of personal interests.
You will soon realise that you are labouring in vain as the people of South Africa can never be unduly influenced to abandon what they worked so hard for in the pursuit of selfishnes that is consuming your party to ashes.
Lo and behold, Lord have mercy…
CoPe accepted a lot of members whom it later regretted. This isn’t the biggest problem with the party, but it is a constant source of embarrassment.
Siphiwo – Hlongwane was a plant by the ANC – for political mileage, nothing else!. The others who were planted shall remain in Cope because realization of the truth has dawned on them. I think the ANC will change their song and their tune drastically after 24th April. And I also think that their corruption skeletons will be exposed and haunt them till Jesus comes again.
Siphiwo Siphiwo: My brother, I wont bother to even try and convert you to common sense. You will remain an unbeliever till Jesus comes. You must be one of those who enjoy special privileges because of your connections with ANC. For us without your good fortunes life is worst than ever before, because the services we are expected to appreciate are either non-existent or of the lowest standard possible. You call dirty water and sewerage in the streets because of stolen pumps or no maintenance
SERVICE. During apartheid years we had clean water from taps in our street. PLEASE DONT BE BLIND!!
xolisa
i’ll assume that you are spinning for mbeshikota, a party infiltrated by exactly the same inept leaders who delivered what you have just spewed.
perhaps you should do yourself a favour by conducting a introspection before howling out aloud!
@T Mlilo.I suppose one becomes a leader because his or her level of awareness. Awareness includes observing trends in any given situation. saying this I’m in no way defending or condemning Mlungisi, all I’m asking Sentlese is to desist from denying other people experiences. He should engage them honestly with a purpose of winning them over to his point of view over time.I wonder why are people so touchy about the mention of tribalism. Me thinks if you’re not a tribalist you wont be bothered by being label a tribalist. It seems “the antelope hates less the one who sees it than the one who sees it and shout its presence”
According to Hlongwane’s press statement, he (that is Hlongwane) refused the Premier position when nominated/offered. And according to the Press Statement, he states that he lobbied that the Gauteng Premier position should be a woman. The problem with this line of argument, is that it is based on labelling Hlongwane an opporutnist, and wanting a position, and if you do that then you will not clearly look at the major criticisms he raises of COPE, and you then won’t deal with it. None of the accusations of Hlongwane seem to add up. He refuses nomination by COPE. COPE places him high on their list (No.2 in Gauteng). He leaves COPE and joins the ANC, after election lists have been completed, ensuring that he cannot be placed by the ANC. He retains criticism of the ANC. All of this does not add up to an opportunist. Can it cross all of your minds that may be he was being honest? Is that too difficult to accept? Especially, since you evidence of opportunism seem quite hollow and baseless!
KHAYELIHLE, your understanding of democracy is very limited and that really makes me to wonder if the outcome of the coming elections is different from what yoyu expect will you accept them.There are many South Africans who do not support your party, accept it.It is sometimes good for human beings to pursue selfish interests as you are presently doing.