Cope must put its money where its mouth is

The Congress of the People must practice what it preaches and implement the direct election of its president, as it advocated during the election campaign.

With preparations under way for the Cope national elective and inaugural congress to legitimately and democratically elect its leaders, it is imperative that the party seriously considers and implements the direct election of the party president.

This is important not only because of the theoretical virtues of direct elections, but also because it will demonstrate that the party is committed to direct, participatory, meaningful and accountable democracy and democratic processes.

Among its chief virtues, the direct election of its president will enhance accountability and make sure that the rank-and-file members have a direct stake in determining who will lead their political fortunes and the overall direction of the party.

The delegate election model is outdated and a relic of the past when effective direct participation was logistically impossible. The dangers of the delegate model make it irrelevant and the practice seriously questionable, as there is no way to ensure that delegates vote according to the decisions made at the branch level, further made possible by a secret ballot at congress.

Additionally, the representation of individual views and political preference is undermined by the delegate model, diluting the popular will of the party members by awarding representation proportionally.

Should there be concerns over the process, the delegate model could at the very least be supplemented by a percentage of the directly expressed will of the members.

In an era of instant and mobile communication, the potential for direct elections has become a logistical possibility. If people can, passionately and at huge personal expense, vote in various contests in the entertainment world, it is worth exploring and experimenting with this in a political manner.

With an up-to-date membership database the process could be executed smoothly and efficiently, and the management of the process by an independent and experienced company would greatly support its legitimacy and impartiality.

Doing this within the party structures would not only enhance the credibility of the party by proving its commitment to participatory democracy, but could also be a worthwhile experiment from which lessons could be learned for national and provincial elections.

Refusal to implement this, or even seriously consider it, would only further entrench in the mind of South Africans and Cope members the allegation that the party leaders have an irrational fear of the ballot.