However, it's worrying that, since its birth, there have been people who publicly (or secretly) join Cope but then a few weeks or months down the line they decide to excuse themselves from Cope and rejoin their original political home or seek a new political home.
Allan Boesak, who recently resigned, and Simon Grindrod, are perfect examples.
As for Lynda Odendaal, everyone knew that she would not survive in Cope. Unfortunately for her, she realised very late that she was used to lure white voters. All these people cite the same reasons for leaving Cope, saying that it is characterised by divisions (between Lekota and Shilowa) and conflicts that seem not to end.
This signals to me and many South Africans that all is not well in Cope, no matter how the likes of Phillip Dexter try to fool the public.
If all were kosher at Cope, then it should be flourishing in terms of its membership; that's what some people expect, after all.
However, it remains to be seen if Cope will cope and survive in the ruthless political turf of this country, even after the party released a statement claiming that it is going from strength to strength.
I have said it before and I will say it again: Cope was conceived by angry people who were not thinking straight. Their emotions overpowered common sense, or common nonsense, depending on which side of the fence the reader is.
The majority of people who joined the party, including their youth and student wings, are political opportunists with high ambitions. Unfortunately, things didn't go as they expected; some jumped out earlier and others are willing to sink with the Titanic rather than swallow their pride.
Boesak, Grindrod, Odendaal and a few others have clearly demonstrated that Cope is a reversible error.
In case the public was not aware, the beginning of the end for Cope began the day it was born.
Now they are hoping to stay longer in the game through their marriage with Premier Helen Zille's party, the DA. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against these recent developments.
However, Zille knows very well that she is banking on the time bomb, Cope, to explode. The reader can do the calculations from here.
Many people still hold a belief that Cope will take the PAC and Azapo route as soon as its funders' pockets dry up.
Since I don't support a one-party state, I wish all the other political parties, and in particular Cope as they journey in their second year of existence, all the best of luck in convincing South Africans that they are alternatives.
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