COPE appoints Loate as interim leader after Lekota steps back to focus on his health
Teboho Loate has been appointed to lead the party until its next elective conference, scheduled to take place in December.
FILE: COPE leadership at a media briefing. Picture: Thabiso Goba/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The Congress of the People (COPE) has appointed Teboho Loate as its interim leader after the party’s president, Mosiuoa Lekota, stepped back from politics to focus on his health.
The party confirmed that Lekota has been unwell, as he continues to battle an undisclosed illness.
Loate has been appointed to lead the party until its next elective conference, scheduled to take place in December.
Loate said he would now focus on rebuilding the organisation.
"This appointment marks the start of a new leadership phase for COPE, one that builds on our founding values while responding to the urgent needs of the country today. Since 2008, COPE has stood for non-racialism, non-sexism, respect for the Constitution, clean government, and the direct election of leaders. These values are even more important now, as our politics have become full of corruption, empty promises, and leaders who put themselves before the people. COPE rejects this kind of politics."