Feeding Cope to the dogs

In politics, and in Cope in particular, sometimes it is necessary to “cut through the spin” of that spun by those claiming to cut through the spin. Especially when their cutting lacks surgical precision and leaves much to be desired.

I was rather amused by the virtually instantaneous return of two of Cope’s most notorious former spokespersons following the illegitimate ousting of Terror Lekota. This after the widely publicised post-election casualties of Ngwema and Tabane who resigned over “politics of the stomach“. Lekota and Cope head of communications Phillip Dexter were barely pushed out of the party when Tabane and Ngwema reappeared as self-appointed spokespersons for the Shilowa Express.

Even more amusing is Tabane’s audacity to claim that things need to get worse in Cope before they can get better, especially when those he chose to align with are constantly fuelling the fire. It is only natural to wonder how much worse he wants it to get within the already embattled and deeply divided party, especially since he claims to have its best interests at heart.

Perhaps Tabane is of the opinion that for true democracy to emerge an organisation must have the experiences of so many post-colonial countries. Ghana comes to mind as an example of a state that had to endure a tumultuous history of dictatorship before true democracy eventually established itself. In other words, it seems that Tabane suggests we should be content with feeding the organisation to the dogs first and then attempt to pick up the pieces, most likely too little, too late.

Maybe the former spokesperson is just disgruntled over the fact that he will soon be out of a job, with very little in the stomach, as the resignation letter of his (former) boss is gathering dust in Charlotte Lobe’s handbag. I doubt Lekota, who is most likely to fill Dandala’s seat, would require Tabane’s services.

Tabane’s recent tirade laying into the perceived lack of leadership of the Cope president conveniently ignores (or is it spins?) a number of facts. Especially the “issue” of Lekota’s single visit to the caucus in the last 18 months, when it was expressly made clear by Dandala that the party advocates a clear separation between the leader in Parliament and the leader of the party, apparently to ensure a clear separation between party and state should Cope eventually take over government. Additionally, I can’t imagine his absence from Parliament should be much of an issue, considering his perfectly competent deputy is chief whip.

Allegations of Terror’s inability to launch branches in the last 18 months are also severely misrepresented and badly spun. Anyone vaguely familiar with the structures of political parties would be aware of the mechanisms involved in launching a branch, and it definitely does not require the constant direction and visible hand of the party president.

If anyone is truly to blame for the dismal state of the branches, the blame is to be squarely laid on the administrators, elected and non-elected, at the provincial, regional and even national level. Rather spurious considering these provincial leaders have all supposedly brought in Shilowa’s nominations, and particularly an indictment against Lobe — a vocal and well-known Express passenger — who is tasked with overall administration of the party’s affairs outside Parliament.

Lobe’s incompetence, and the deployment of Express passengers to Cope House, have persistently undermined and sabotaged the president and deputy secretary general, Deidre Carter, only retrospectively explained in terms of Lobe’s true loyalties in a particular faction. Lobe’s attempt to have herself installed as deputy president would only serve to cover up her incompetence in issuing membership cards and organising meetings, conferences and the much-publicised aborted elective conference.

The credibility of the Express — and Tabane for that matter — is tarnished by its association with loud-mouth Anele Mda, who has been the organisation’s greatest walking PR disaster and conductor of the Express. It is also convenient that Tabane criticises Lekota for his supposed desire to cling to his salary from Cope House when Mdalema has repeatedly proclaimed, nay, trumpeted her lavish lifestyle and jet-setting all over the country on her personal Facebook account, after hypocritically, of course, taking Malema to task over his own lifestyle on ANC money, and not taxpayers’, unlike the Honourable Member.

After blowing so much hot air, the Shilobemda Express eventually, it would seem, ran out of steam, derailed and came to a crashing halt. Kicking a man when he’s down proved to be their biggest miscalculation, having woken a Terror-fying Sleeping Dragon.

Instead of deifying an individual, a grass-roots revolt has occurred within the party and members have rallied in support of the party president and other leadership figures as the embodiment of the values, mission and objective touted by the party at its founding in Bloemfontein. The absence of a third candidate has starkly contrasted the Express against those who have chosen to distance themselves from it. Perhaps the most impressive of these is the around-the-clock efforts of a core group of individuals from across all nine provinces — the self-styled Terror’s Task Team (TTT) — who have taken it upon themselves to ensure maximum exposure of the principled approach to politics originally envisioned by the party.

I was most impressed, however, by the competence, efficiency, skills, diversity, qualifications, experience, passion and dedication of the so-called TTT.

Among its arguments for Terror — instead of the perpetual “against” this or that one (which reminds me, I am yet to see an endorsement of Shilowa mentioning his personal contribution and potential) — is his experience in the UDF and Black Consciousness Movement; his ideological, theoretical and policy knowledge (aided by the association and backing of Ngonyama and Dexter); his broad-based cross-racial and cross-class line appeal demonstrated in his ability to rally white — and particular Afrikaner — leaders and supporters (notably Koornhof, Killian and Carter at the national level); his willingness to visit rural and impoverished areas (something Shilowa is yet to do); and his media profile, which is higher than that of Shilowa, initially demonstrated during the election campaign when Shilowa failed to make a significant dent in mainstream media mentions, versus that of Lekota and Dandala.

Cementing the “rise of Terror Lekota” is the successful rally held in Port Elizabeth this past weekend, a supposed Shilowa stronghold, in which approximately 1 000 people packed a community hall to listen to Ngonyama, Lekota and Balindlela, and to indicate their support for the party and its president. Terror’s schedule includes another imbizo to be held in Soweto this weekend, another test of the hold Shilowa is believed to have on Gauteng.

Perhaps for all his skill in spinning and handling the media, Tabane missed out on a few classes in political education. For all his lamentation of the politics of the stomach, it is clear that he, least of all people, does not want to miss out of the Shilowa Gravy Train.