Leaders of the Congress of the People (COPE) lost all decorum at a media briefing that ended in blows.
What happened at the COPE media briefing?
A COPE presser held in Boksburg on Wednesday deteriorated into a fist brawl when several party members, some donning political regalia, gate-crashed proceedings and confronted the embattled leader Mosiuoa Lekota.
A man blinded by rage approached the COPE president while he addressed the media. When Lekota’s henchmen intervened and manhandled the man, in attempt to pin him down, all hell broke loose.
Several men surfaced in the presser and launched punches at one of Lekota’s defenders. In a statement to IOL News, COPE spokesperson Dennis Bloem condemned the brawl.
According to Bloem, the violent clash came after Lekota blatantly disregarded a consensus reached by structures within COPE that he should step down as the party’s leader.
“It is very unfortunate that such things are happening. The blame must be put squarely on [Lekota], he has been busy dividing COPE. Now look at what is happening now,” COPE spokesperson Bloem said.
Before you tune into the viral clip of the brawl, here is a little bit of context.
Tensions have been palpable within COPE structures in recent weeks. According to Bloem, Lekota was effectively suspended in a Congress National Council meeting held within the prescripts of the party’s policies.
In a defiant showing, Lekota, Bloem adds, had planned a media briefing to respond to calls within his party calling for his axing.
“I am prepared to go to court. I challenge any individual who can bring forward evidence. I take deep pride in not being a thief, I don’t want to be identified with thieves and I will not allow anybody to day these kind of things,” Lekota asserted in his defence.
Here is the viral footage of the COPE leaders brawl that was caught on camera by the media: