COPE women's movement came out with guns blazing yesterday, giving Lekota and the party's disciplinary committee a two-week deadline to review its decision to clear Madisha of sexually harassing Nozipho Didiza-Ndlela.
If the review did not result in a changed decision, said the women's movement's deputy chairman, Zale Madonsela, the women would call on gender activists to stage a protest march to "express our disgust at a leadership that promised to protect the Constitution but is acting in its violation".
"The COPE women's movement rejects the findings made by the disciplinary committee, on the basis that the committee was appointed to serve factional interests as it was appointed without being sanctioned by the Congress national committee," said Madonsela.
COPE spokesman Phillip Dexter said the statement by the women's movement was factually incorrect: "There will be consequences for those who issued the statement," he threatened.
A disciplinary committee chaired by Eastern Cape COPE MP Makhosazana Njobe found that there was no evidence to substantiate allegations that Madisha violated COPE's constitution "under the article which deals with sexual harassment".
Didiza-Ndlela had claimed that Madisha "indecently and intentionally touched my private parts in a manner that violated my private person and dignity".
Madonsela said there were serious flaws in the disciplinary process, which showed a "total disregard and disrespect for women".
She said: "Lekota has developed into an autocrat . [who] does not tolerate any opposing view, no matter how much sense is in that opposing voice."
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