By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Political party the Congress of the People (COPE) has dismissed claims that former President Thabo Mbeki was among senior African National Congress (ANC) leaders who were behind the formation of the party.
This comes after political commentator JJ Tabane alleged in an interview that ANC leaders including Mbeki, Tito Mboweni, Trevor Manuel, and Kgalema Motlanthe and Enoch Godongwana were responsible for the formation of Cope in the lead-up to the 2009 elections.
Cope National Spokesperson Dennis Bloem says allegations that ANC senior members were involved in the formation of Cope and had funded the party in the background, were “utter nonsense”.
Following Tabane’s allegations, ANC NEC member Lindiwe Sisulu, who is believed to be campaigning for a top six position in the party, had asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate allegations that senior ANC leaders were behind the formation of splinter party Cope.
Sisulu is said to have told Ramaphosa that, if Tabane’s claims were true, the act would be treachery and needed to be thoroughly investigated.
She also said Tabane’s remarks could not be dismissed as gossip because “he was in the thick of things during the formation and the early years of Cope” as the party’s “communications director and later a political advisor in the party at the time”.
Several senior ANC members – including Mosiuoa Lekota, Mbhazima Shilowa and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka – who were unhappy with the looming election of a criminally charged Jacob Zuma as president, formed Cope after the party recalled Mbeki as president.
COPE was a splinter group from the ANC after Zuma was elected as ANC president in Polokwane.
Bloem said it was not a secret that Mbeki’s late mother, Epainette Nomaka Mbeki, was a card-carrying member of Congress of the People (Cope) after she resigned from the ANC.
“She was a very proud member of Cope. We urge all those who make these wild and unfounded allegations to come to the fore with proof.”
The (African National Congress) ANC is yet to respond to the letter send to the president, whether the party will be investigating the allegations.