Congress Of The People (South African Political Party)
Politics of South Africa
Political parties
Elections
The Congress of the People (COPE) is a South African political party formed in 2008 by former members of the African National Congress (ANC). The party was founded by former ANC members Mosiuoa Lekota, Mbhazima Shilowa and Mluleki George to contest the 2009 general election. The party was announced following a national convention held in Sandton on 1 November 2008, and was founded at a congress held in Bloemfontein on 16 December 2008. The name echoes the 1955 Congress of the People at which the Freedom Charter was adopted by the ANC and other parties, a name strongly contested by the ANC in a legal move dismissed by the Pretoria High Court.
In the 2009 general election, the party eventually received 1 311 027 votes and a 7.42% share of the vote.
Read more about Congress Of The People (South African Political Party): Non-elective Leadership, Provincial Premiership Candidates, Prominent Supporters, Policy
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