Cope in the City of Joburg has dismissed claims that its chair of chairs, Colleen Makhubele, has been suspended from all council activities.
Makhubele was allegedly served with a suspension letter on Monday after she voted for a successful PAC-sponsored motion to remove DA Speaker Vasco da Gama last month.
On Tuesday, Cope City of Joburg, the region and Makhubele issued a joint media statement in response to a letter of suspension sent by the party’s provincial interim coordinator in Gauteng, Mxolisi Ntombela.
“This letter serves to inform you that Cope Gauteng interim provincial structure resolved at its meeting on 10 September 2022 to put you on suspension with immediate effect pending the outcome of the disciplinary hearing,” said the letter.
According to the letter, the conditions of her suspension are that she is suspended from all council duties and activities, she may not represent Cope at any platform, including doing media interviews and commenting on any public platform, and that she will be informed within seven working days of the process of the disciplinary hearing.
“We would like to dismiss reports of Makhubele’s suspension by illegitimate, unconstitutional and parallel interim provincial structure, established by national spokesperson Dennis Bloem,” said Cope Johannesburg Regional Secretary Ariel Mokete.
Mokete further said: “We would like to put it on record that Makhubele is not suspended and that she is continuing to serve the residents of the city of Johannesburg as the chair of chairs of the city and also as a Cope councillor”.
Mokete said the party in the Joburg Region asserts that the suspension letter, which was written by Ntobela, is as a result of alleged pressure placed on Bloem and other minority party leaders from the DA-led multi-party coalition to remove all councillors who voted in favour of the removal of Da Gama.
“This action also serves as part of a smear campaign on our councillor and party representative by those who are trying hard to cause confusion within Cope and to tarnish her name,” he said.
Mokete reiterated that Cope is a party that prides itself in speaking truth to power and in defending the constitution of this country.
“Makhubele is a leader who respects and upholds the constitution of her party and her oath of office. The Joburg region, together with Makhubele, are currently taking legal counsel and are in consultation with the provincial and national structure. We will be taking legal steps against those who are trying hard to defame her name and character for their own personal gain and to win points with the DA multiparty coalition at the expense of her name and that of Cope,” Mokete said.
Ntombela told The Star that he was not aware of the matter going to court but confirmed that she was suspended.
“According to my knowledge, Makhubele is suspended. I am not aware if the matter has been taken to court,” Ntombela said.