COPE has hope: The rise, fall, and revival plan of a former political heavyweight

Over 16 years ago, a breakaway party of the African National Congress (ANC) shook up South Africa’s political scene.

The Congress of the People (COPE) garnered over 1.3 million votes (7.42%) in the 2009 election, securing 30 seats in Parliament and marking the ANC’s first national electoral dip.

Yet in 2024, COPE received just 31,000 or 0.09% of the national vote, marking the first time that they party did not receive any seats in Parliament.

Despite this steep decline, interim president Teboho Loate insists that the party still has a future and “important role to play in South Africa.”

Speaking to Newsday, Loate reflected on COPE’s journey, its challenges, and its plans to rebuild ahead of the 2026 municipal elections.

COPE was founded in 2008 by former African National Congress (ANC) members dissatisfied with the ANC’s direction under Jacob Zuma.

Its formation was rooted in deep internal ANC divisions exposed at the 2007 Polokwane conference, where Zuma defeated then-President Thabo Mbeki for the ANC leadership.

The breaking point came in September 2008, when the Zuma-influenced ANC recalled Mbeki as South Africa’s president amid allegations of interference in Zuma’s corruption case.

High-profile ANC members, including former ANC chairperson and Minister Mosiuoa Lekota, former Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa, Loate and Deputy Minister Mluleki George, resigned in protest.

They cited concerns about Zuma’s leadership and alleged erosion of democratic norms.

COPE was officially launched on 16 December 2008, aiming to be a centrist, social-democratic alternative to the ANC, with a focus on addressing crime, poverty, and unemployment.

In the 2009 general election, COPE became the country’s third-largest party.

Loate believes COPE’s initial surge in 2009 stemmed from its founders “sounding the alarm about the ANC drifting away from its founding principles.”

“Many of us came from the ANC. We raised the alarm to say the ANC is deviating from its original course,” he said.

“South Africans realised the message we were conveying was real, and that’s why they joined us, to protect our country from what we saw unfolding.”

2009 electoral performance of COPE

	Total number of votes	Percentage share of votes
National	1,311,027	7.4%
Eastern Cape	308,439	13.67%
Free State	120,018	11.61%
Gauteng	323,327	7.78%
KwaZulu-Natal	44,890	1.29%
Limpopo	112,325	7.53%
Mpumalanga	37,789	2.91%
North West	89,573	8.33%
Northern Cape	67,416	16.67%
Western Cape	152,356	7.74%

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Challenges and leadership changes

Organisational and financial problems further weakened COPE, with many notable leadership disputes.

As researchers, Ivor Sarakinsky and Ebrahim Fakir noted, COPE’s decline stemmed from both internal weaknesses and its roots in ANC factional battles.

The party was consumed by leadership struggles, mainly between Lekota and Shilowa, and repeated legal disputes imported the same political conflicts that had plagued its parent party, damaging its credibility.

In an interview with eNCA, Shilowa said also pointed to challanges with building structures. “The minute you don’t have structures on the ground, you are not capable of winning and being in provinces.” 

Its electoral support steadily declined, dropping to 0.67% in 2014, 0.27% in 2019, and 0.09% in 2024, resulting in the loss of all parliamentary seats.

Loate blamed late campaigning and financial instability for the party’s poor 2024 showing.

“Because of a number of challenges, we started our campaign very late, almost just a few days before the elections. We were not happy with the results, but we believe that had we started early, we could have covered a larger ground,” he said.

The party did not submit an audited report to the IEC in the 2023/24 financial year, leading to a loss in funding.

Another factor cited by some for its decline was the impact of the party’s former member, Colleen Makhubele, who is now the chief whip of Zuma’s uMkhonto we Sizwe party.

Before the 2024 elections, Makhubele announced, without party approval, that COPE would join the South African Rainbow Alliance (SARA), a party she became president of and then dumped shortly after the elections.

“The idea of COPE joining or becoming part of a new party was never discussed. It’s foreign to us. We need to put that behind us and focus on the way forward.”

“To be honest, the less we speak about Makhubele, the better,” Loate added.

COPE’s decline has been steep, but Loate insists it is not irreversible.

Rebuilding COPE and road to 2026

In August 2025, founding president Lekota stepped back from the party’s leadership, citing health reasons.

Reflecting on “Terror” Lekota, Loate praised “his long-standing fight against corruption.” “From his time as Free State premier to Parliament, Lekota remained steadfast against corruption and maladministration.”

“People remember him for statements in Parliament: even ‘Pay back the money’ during the Zuma years came from him. He foresaw corruption long before others.”

Now, Loate said, there is a broader leadership renewal aimed at restoring public trust ahead of the 2026 elections.

“We remain an alternative to what is happening in our country. South Africans deserve leaders who are incorruptible, accountable, and determined to serve.”

Loate says COPE has embarked on a period of introspection and rebuilding. The party has been consulting members and candidates, developing a new roadmap, and embarking on provincial visits to strengthen its base.

“We are recognising members who have paid their membership, encouraging new members to join, and inviting old members back,” he said.

“COPE still remains an alternative to what is happening currently in our country.”

Looking ahead, COPE is finalising its process for selecting candidates, which will be limited to card-carrying members put through a rigorous vetting process.

“We are identifying independent professionals to evaluate and even interview applicants. That way, we can offer South Africans leaders who will serve them,” Loate explained.

The number of municipalities COPE contests in 2026 will depend on where strong candidates emerge, with the party’s electoral conference in December 2025.

He said that COPE’s core promises remain focused on restoring municipalities, reforming the tender system, delivering housing and services, and ensuring clean governance.

“Our public service has collapsed,” Loate said. “We need honourable political leaders in municipalities and a transformed administration that can deliver.”

“Nobody needs to tell us the tender system has gone wrong: it’s the cause of all evil today. We must bring reforms.”

With coalitions now shaping the future of South African politics, Loate says COPE is open to negotiations, but with firm conditions.

“Too much power corrupts. We are mindful and open to negotiating with any party that has proven not to be tainted by what we see happening today,” he said, noting that parties like COPE could be the swing vote in fractured councils.

“Holding public servants accountable is non-negotiable. And we will not compromise on agreeing to priorities that turn the tide so that our people receive the services they deserve,” Loate said.