Cope fight

A brawl broke out during a live briefing held by the Congress of the People (Cope) on Wednesday in Johannesburg.

He must adhere to the code of conduct of the Congress of the People. He has no right to address the people on behalf of Congress of the People. These are the people destroying the Congress of the People. He must adhere to the constitution. We are here to say they don’t have the right to be here. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, one of the Cope members stated the people at the briefing are not members of Cope.

The party has been marred by several internal squabbles, with the recent one being a statement released on Monday announcing Lekota's suspension.

The party has been marred by several internal squabbles, with the recent one being a statement released on Monday announcing Lekota's suspension.

Fists and flying chairs were the violent scenes that broke out at a Congress of the People (Cope) briefing on Wednesday as the party's suspended president ...

Only learnt one of them is working in one of the Cope member’s office and are in Madisha’s cabal. If it was real Congress of the People, why are they saying some people must not come in," he said. All they’re trying to do is save salaries."

A Cope members have disrupted a press conference held by the party's suspended president Mosiuoa Lekota.

But also because I am very physically active”. Where are the minutes of this meeting?” he asked. Where was that meeting held? I’m not interested in this story that I’m suspended. [announced](https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/3185991/cope-spokesperson-denies-suspended-august-2022/) that Lekota remained the party’s leader and had the “confidence and full support” of the CNC. [on Sunday](https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/3184909/cope-president-mosiuoa-lekota-suspended-august-2022/) by Cope’s congress national committee (CNC) for allegedly dividing the party and “lack of energy and strength” due to his ill health.

News update: Cope members physically attacked each other during the press conference on Wednesday, in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.

Nota Baloyi has ruffled many local celebrities with his controversial posts and podcast appearances. [Daily news update: Petrol price, political party donations and VBS to seize Zuma’s assets](https://www.citizen.co.za/news/3186392/daily-news-update-31-august-2022/) [Ex-Chiefs, Sundowns star Lebese continues search for new club](https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/soccer/local-soccer/mgosi/3186964/ex-chiefs-sundowns-star-lebese-continues-search-for-new-club/) [Mkhwebane perjury case postponed to December](https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/courts/3187012/mkhwebane-perjury-case-postponed-to-december/) [VBS Mutual Bank gets attachment order for Zuma’s assets at Nkandla](https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/courts/3186540/vbs-mutual-bank-gets-attachment-order-for-zumas-assets-at-nkandla/) [Phala Phala: Ramaphosa has until 8 September to respond to Reserve Bank](https://www.citizen.co.za/news/3186789/phala-phala-ramaphosa-until-8-september-respond-reserve-bank/) [‘Stop clout chasing’ – Sol Phenduka’s confrontation with Nota](https://www.citizen.co.za/entertainment/celebrity-news/3186889/nota-baloyi-and-sol-phenduka-confrontation/) [Bloomberg](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-30/ramaphosa-must-respond-to-central-bank-on-farm-heist-by-sept-8?srnd=premium-africa), the South African Reserve Bank’s (Sarb) Financial Surveillance Department (FSD), which administers exchange-control regulations, is expected to continue investigations once the responses are received. [on Sunday](https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/3184909/cope-president-mosiuoa-lekota-suspended-august-2022/) by Cope’s congress national committee (CNC) for allegedly dividing the party and “lack of energy and strength” due to his ill health. [Public Protector](http://www.publicprotector.org/) Busisiwe Mkhwebane was on Wednesday and was postponed to 9 December for a decision on the review application of the remaining two charges in the perjury matter. [WATCH: Fistfight breaks out between Cope members as Lekota presser disrupted](https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/3186976/watch-fistfight-breaks-out-between-cope-members-as-lekota-presser-disrupted/) [The Citizen](https://www.citizen.co.za/news/) – More News, Your Way.

A media briefing by suspended Cope president Mosiuoa Lekota to explain factional battles plaguing his party, descended into chaos after disgruntled members ...

"I take great pride in not being a thief, and I don't want to be identified with thieves. I could no longer keep quiet and not respond because a lot of people were now asking, why is Lekota not disputing these allegations? Police had to be called in to remove the three individuals who attempted to attack Lekota. "I'm not frail; as you can see, I am quite alive. According to Lekota, he called a meeting of the CNC where the party's leaders were meant to elect a general-secretary and a deputy general-secretary to fill vacancies after the resignation of former deputy general-secretary Rob Hutchinson and the death of general-secretary Papi Kganare. Having been prevented from causing any physical harm to the party leader, Raidani and his accomplices continued to shout that Lekota and those addressing the media had no right to do so as they were no longer in charge given his suspension on Monday.

Fists and chairs flew as violence erupted at a Congress of the People briefing on Wednesday by the party's suspended president Mosiuoa Lekota.

If it was the real COPE, why are they saying some people must not come in?” he said. Lekota said he was disappointed about the message the violent scenes conveyed to the party's voters. Takalani Raidani, who said he was the leader of COPE's Youth Movement, was adamant Lekota would not finish his term.

Local media personality Sizwe Dhlomo is one of many South Africans who have weighed in on the viral COPE fight.

The fight became a trending topic as many South Africans weighed in on how embarrassing and shameful most of the country’s political leaders have become over the last few years. Local media personality Sizwe Dhlomo is one of many South Africans who have weighed in on the viral COPE fight. Sizwe Dhlomo weighs in on the COPE fight.