COPE in Western Cape lines up for Shilowa

The Congress of the People in Western Cape has named Mbhazima Shilowa as its candidate to lead the party.

The decision, taken at a provincial congress in Cape Town yesterday, could be overturned if a high court challenge by a faction is successful.

The faction, which backs COPE president Mosiuoa Lekota to retain his position, on Friday night unsuccessfully applied for an interdict to halt the meeting on the grounds that it was irregularly constituted.

Another application will be made on Thursday.

COPE's Western Cape secretary, Mogamat Majiedt, said yesterday that delegates had backed Shilowa for the presidency, Charlotte Lobe for first deputy president, Mluleki George for second deputy, and Mvume Dandala for general secretary.

Majiet said Mbulelo Ncedana, the MPL and former Cape Town city councillor who has been serving as interim provincial chairman of the party, was elected chairman, with Ebrahim Sawant as his deputy.

Ncedana said he was "confident" that the national congress called by the Shilowa faction would go ahead this weekend as planned.

Dismissing reports that several provinces would not attend, he said what was needed was the attendance of branches, not regional or provincial leaders.

"The congress is a summit of branches," he said.

In Limpopo, half the branches said they would attend.

Mpumalanga is reportedly planning a boycott.