JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s new Congress of the People party (COPE) has chosen Methodist bishop Mvume Dandala as its presidential candidate, the Star newspaper said yesterday, ahead of what is expected to be a closely fought election in April.
A spokesman for COPE, formed by dissidents from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in December, said a decision on the party leadership had not been made, however.
The April 22nd election is expected to be the most closely contested since apartheid ended in 1994. The ANC, in power since then, is widely seen winning and making party leader Jacob Zuma president, but it faces an unprecedented challenge from COPE.
The Star quoted an unnamed source who attended a COPE leadership meeting as saying Bishop Dandala, who played a role in the struggle against apartheid, was chosen because he had no political baggage.
If he is confirmed as the party’s presidential candidate, he could appeal to South Africans who have grown tired of corruption scandals in the ANC, as well as the party’s record on crime, poverty and an Aids epidemic.
In the latest corruption case to hit the ANC, its spokesman Carl Niehaus told radio stations he had forged letters in a former government job and racked up hundreds of thousands of rand in debts to fund a lavish lifestyle.
Aubrey Matshiqi of South Africa’s Centre for Policy Studies said it appeared COPE would campaign on the question of political morality. Church leaders have significant influence in Africa, where religious faith is strong.
COPE was formed by disgruntled senior officials in the ANC after the party pushed Mr Zuma’s rival Thabo Mbeki out of office.
So far the party has been led by former defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota and other Mbeki loyalists hold senior positions.
They are seen as less inclined to be influenced by trade unions and the Communist Party, which support Mr Zuma – an alliance that has troubled investors. – (Reuters)