COPE Sol Plaatje Constituency

25/06/2026

We congratulate our boys for an outstanding performance.

20/06/2026

We call on all eligible voters to register for the upcoming elections.

12/05/2026

SOUTH AFRICA NEEDS MATURE CONSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP MORE THAN EVER.

COPE refuses to join those who believe accountability can only be achieved through political chaos, insults, instability, or the collapse of institutions. At the same time, we reject the abuse of parliamentary majorities to shield leaders from scrutiny.

The Constitutional Court judgment reminded the country that constitutional accountability matters. But accountability must happen through credible constitutional processes — not mob politics, factional hysteria, or reckless destabilisation.

We believe South Africa deserves both:
✔ accountable leadership
✔ stable governance
✔ strong democratic institutions
✔ respect for the rule of law

These principles are not enemies of each other. They are the foundation of constitutional democracy.

COPE remains committed to defending the Constitution with firmness, maturity, and responsibility.

11/05/2026

COPE CONDEMNS THE NORTHERN CAPE MEC’S UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED INTERVENTION IN SOL PLAATJE MUNICIPALITY

The Congress of the People (COPE) condemns in the strongest possible terms the unprecedented, irrational, unlawful, and unconstitutional conduct of the Northern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance in placing the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality under a section 139(1)(b) intervention.

This intervention does not stem from a genuine effort to restore governance and service delivery. It is increasingly clear that this is politically motivated conduct intended to undermine the municipality's institutional autonomy and interfere in its administration.

On January 19, 2026, COPE formally wrote to Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, warning that the Northern Cape provincial administration had become compromised by political interference, instability, and unlawful attempts to remove the Municipal Manager. Despite the seriousness of the matter, the Minister failed to acknowledge the correspondence or intervene under section 154(1) of the Constitution, which obligates national and provincial governments to support and strengthen municipalities before resorting to drastic intervention measures.

Instead of support and stabilisation, the provincial government has chosen confrontation, litigation, and political encroachment.

Most alarmingly, the MEC has now taken the municipality to court to overturn a council resolution. This extraordinary conduct fundamentally violates the constitutional principles of cooperative governance set out in section 41 of the Constitution, which require the spheres of government to act in mutual trust and good faith and without legal hostility toward one another.

The intervention further offends section 151(4) of the Constitution, which expressly prohibits the provincial government from compromising or impeding a municipality’s ability to exercise its powers and perform its functions.

The Constitution does not permit section 139 interventions to be abused as instruments of factional politics, administrative intimidation or provincial overreach.

The people of Kimberley are already suffering from deteriorating service delivery, water shortages, sewage spills, infrastructure decay, and declining investor confidence. What they need is stability, lawful governance, and professional administration — not political warfare masquerading as constitutional intervention.

COPE calls on Minister Hlabisa to urgently deny approval of the intervention and to institute an independent national process to stabilize the municipality in accordance with sections 154 and 41 of the Constitution.

South Africans must reject the dangerous normalisation of unconstitutional political interference in local government.

Issued by:
Pakes Dikgetsi
COPE’s Acting National Chairperson

08/05/2026

16/04/2026

16 April 2026

To All Media Houses / Editors

COPE REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO DISCIPLINED, CREDIBLE CONGRESSES AND ORGANISATIONAL RENEWAL

For Immediate Release.

The Congress of the People (COPE) notes that it has been one month since Mosiuoa Lekota's burial. President Lekota was a principled patriot and a steadfast defender of constitutional democracy. He was widely respected for his integrity, discipline, and unwavering commitment to ethical leadership.

As we honour his legacy, we reaffirm our commitment to building a Party that is Reliable, Accountable and Incorruptible, and firmly grounded in constitutionalism.

Over the past month, we have been inundated with an increasing number of South Africans joining and rejoining COPE. Many, inspired by powerful tributes and eulogies from across society, have come to recognise that President Lekota provided the right leadership at a critical time and that the formation of COPE was a necessary and correct intervention in the progression of our democratic order. Former members are returning, and new members are swelling our ranks.

Since February, the Congress National Committee (CNC) has held several meetings to assess provinces' readiness to convene congresses. The assessment presents a mixed picture, with some provinces making steady progress while others are moving more slowly.

COPE is clear: we are committed to convening credible, properly constituted, and democratically sound congresses that reflect the genuine will of ordinary members. These processes must not only comply with the Party Constitution but also inspire confidence among our members and the broader electorate.

We acknowledge that political parties across the country face declining public confidence in their role as institutions of democratic representation. It is therefore imperative that COPE lead by example through transparent, disciplined, and credible internal processes.

COPE continues to strengthen its organisational systems, leadership coordination, and implementation capacity to ensure that all processes are conducted to the highest standards of discipline, unity, and constitutional compliance. The CNC remains focused on consolidating progress and supporting all provinces in meeting the required benchmarks.

The CNC will meet soon to conduct a further assessment of readiness across provinces and to determine the way forward to ensure the successful convening of congresses.

COPE remains resolute in its renewal programme. We are building a Party that works, listens, and, when entrusted with the privilege of being part of government, should have the capacity to deliver, grounded in principle, guided by the will of its members, and committed to serving the people.

To honour President Lekota is to uphold the Constitution always.

Issued by: Erick Mohlapamaswi
COPE Acting General Secretary/ 061 122 3133

For More Information Contact: COPE Media Officer/ 061 994 7572

19/03/2026

COPE EXPRESSES GRATITUDE FOLLOWING THE STATE FUNERAL OF PRESIDENT MOSIUOA “TERROR” LEKOTA

For Immediate Release

The Congress of the People (COPE) extends its deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to the Government of the Republic of South Africa for granting our late President, Mosiuoa “Terror” Lekota, the honour and dignity of an Official State Funeral. This solemn recognition affirms his lifelong contribution to the struggle for freedom, justice, and the advancement of our constitutional democracy.

We further extend our sincere appreciation to all South Africans from every walk of life who have stood with us during this period of mourning. Your messages of condolences, tributes, and acts of solidarity have provided immense comfort to the organisation and to all who were touched by Ntate Lekota’s leadership and legacy.

COPE is deeply grateful to the Lekota family for their generosity and grace in sharing their beloved father, leader, and pillar of strength with the nation and with the organisation he led with distinction. Their selflessness during this time of loss embodies the very values that Ntate Lekota stood for: unity, humility, and service.

We also wish to acknowledge and thank all political parties across the spectrum for setting aside their differences to honour a leader who belonged not only to COPE but to the entire nation. Your presence and tributes reflected the spirit of unity and respect that defines our democracy at its best.

We extend our appreciation to the church community for their spiritual guidance, prayers, and unwavering support. Your role in comforting the bereaved and uplifting the nation during this grim time has been invaluable.

"We are deeply humbled by the overwhelming support and compassion shown to the Lekota family and to the Congress of the People during this difficult period. The recognition of President Lekota through an Official State Funeral is a fitting tribute to a man who dedicated his life to serving our country. We thank all South Africans, the government, political formations, and the church for standing united in honouring his legacy. This moment reminds us that beyond politics, we remain one nation." Said COPE’s Acting General Secretary, Erick Mohlapamaswi

As COPE, we remain committed to upholding the values and principles for which President Lekota stood. His legacy will continue to guide our mission as we strive to build a just, united, and prosperous South Africa.

Issued By: Erick Mohlapamaswi
COPE’s Acting General Secretary

For more information, contact: COPE MEDIA
Aubrey Molobi /061 499 7572

08/03/2026

This is better late than never.

Paying tribute to President and Comrade Lekota has been with me since hearing the sad news of his passing.

Comrade Terror was a great leader of not only the United Democratic Front and the ANC but an inspiration for some to join the Congress of the People!

Comrade Terror Lekota represented the values of what we thought and believed what our Country could and should be about!

A truly Non racial and Free South Africa!

His inspiration to us was not about hero worshiping a cult of a leader but a belief in a genuine cause for what what we all believed in.

A well informed understanding of what we all truly fought and suffered for.

Comrade Terror understood this.

Some vilified him for courage and for standing up against graft,corruption and ineptitude of the State.

Many rejected him for his honesty and truth because they benefitted from it.

Today it is laid bare in front of the whole world to see.

Terror Lekota was courageous and a true leader of the people.

Without him and many others who stood next to him at the time when COPE was going through difficult times of internal strife and upheavals.

Terror Lekota was a beacon of hope to all of us as the Country!

We might have been naive and never understood How History would turn out.

Comrade Lekota remained in our hearts for standing up for what was truly genuine and truthful.

That many South africans were not prepared to hear was attitulated in perfect unison and representation by an awesome and great Patriot.

History shall remember Terror as the one man who stood up when many were afraid to do so.

Today the ground has shifted.

More than a decade later, the Country has moved on and it all seems dark and gloom!

Everything remains the same and the challenges even worse!

Many want to pretend that, where they are now was never first ignited and influenced by the actions of one courageous man whom they called out, distanced themselves from and rejected!

Terror Lekota was ahead of his time and COPE as the vehicle for change paved the way with all its challenges.

We, as a country are where we are now but Comrade Terror shall always be remembered by those who understood the value and true cause of our struggle as a giant and a Patriot.

Some, at the time he led COPE did not think so and they fought hard to write him off from the History books.

It shall not happen.

History has a way of coming back to haunt those who are foolish enough to ignore and not learn from its pathways.

Mosiou Lekota shall remain in our hearts.

May His Soul rest in Peace!

Hamba kakuhle Nkokheli.

Phinda Siyo