People will decide if Cope is on right track
COPE has insisted that there was nothing wrong in working together with AfriForum, adding that is it was for the good of the country.
Party spokesperson Shalati Glacier Nkhwashu was commenting on the party’s plans ahead of next year’s elections and criticism of its relationship with AfriForum – perceived to be an Afrikaner interest group.
“We co-operate where we have a mutual interest, and, likewise we will tell Afriforum where we disagree with their stance.
“The preamble to our Constitution calls for us to be ‘united in our diversity’. … Who has the authority to judge with whom we may and may not associate, and on what basis?
“Our stance in this regard is principled and we will leave it up to the electorate to decide whether they agree with our view or not.”
Nkhwashu said Cope was founded in defence of the Constitution and it was that that informed their position on expropriation of land without compensation.
“It is our view that our Constitution is explicitly reformist and transformative.
“It explicitly provides for land restitution and redistribution… expropriation of land may not be arbitrary and that compensation should be fair and equitable. This could very well mean that in certain circumstances compensation could be little to zero,” she said.
Nkhwashu said Parliament’s own High Level Panel Report and the views of many agrarian and land reform institutions and that of research all pointed to “government’s failures” to give effect to the Constitution’s imperatives and that there was no need to amend the Constitution.
“The ANC is not owning up to its failures… Their tactics are damaging, destructive and could well be proven to be counter-productive to our transformation project.”
She said at the time Cope was formed they warned South Africans of the impending disaster.
“Had the electorate taken heed of our warnings, we would not be facing the calamity that we face today.
“We have remained steadfast and principled in this stance and in the need for good, progressive, responsible and corrupt-free governance,” Nkhwashu said.
She said her party would shortly be going to their national conference after which it would be in a better position to flesh out its electoral campaign.
“Our candidate nomination process is not yet complete and is linked in part to our conference which will be held mid January,” she said.
Detailing the party’s achievements, Nkhwashu said: “In Parliament we have ‘boxed well above our weight’ and made telling contributions throughout the year in the National Assembly.
“We have continuously protected the Constitution.
“One highlight has been the adoption of our Private Members Bill of the Civil Union Amendment Act which will disallow marriage officers in the employ of the state from discriminating against same-sex couples.”
She said party leader Mosiuoa Lekota was also introducing a bill to reform the country’s electoral system – specifically to make provision for individuals to stand as candidates in provincial and national election.