Congress of the People
- Leader:
- Teboho Loate (interim leader)
- Founded:
- 2008
- 2026 participation recorded
The Congress of the People is a centrist, constitutionalist party formed in 2008 by former ANC members led by Mosiuoa Lekota, emphasising clean governance and anti-corruption. After Lekota stepped back and then died, the party is rebuilding under interim leadership ahead of the 2026 polls.
Where the party stands today
In the 2021 local elections COPE won 11 council seats across 9 municipalities, mostly in Limpopo (5), the Free State (2) and the Northern Cape (2).
What else do they stand for?
A match on these questions is not agreement with a party's whole programme. Here are other policies we did not ask you about.
Policies and sources
Other recorded policies from Congress of the People
That is a research gap, not evidence that the party has no policy.
Selected policies, not a full manifesto or ballot list. National policies are context, not powers a council can exercise on its own. Local plans can also need other agencies. Read dates and sources before deciding.
Headline pledges
Rebuild local representation by contesting 28 municipalities in eight provinces.
southafricatoday.net
Where COPE stands
1 of 18 positions foundClean & accountable government
Top municipal jobs, like the city manager and the head of finance, should be filled by an independent panel. Political parties should have no say in who gets them.
Agree"Promises professional municipal appointments rather than political hangers-on and competent accounting, auditing and IT staff. Independent appointment panels are not specified."
COPE's local govt election manifesto 2011 (full text, Politicsweb), 13 Mar 2011manifestoolder sourceThe law should stop the municipality from raising rates and service charges (water, electricity, refuse) by more than inflation each year.
No stated position
Water, electricity & tariffs
Note: 16 September coverage quotes acting national chair Pakes Dikgetsi confirming candidates in 28 municipalities across eight provinces, excluding KwaZulu-Natal. This is materially better evidence of participation than the old generic manifesto aggregator. No substantive 2025-2026 municipal programme or announced Gauteng mayoral candidate was located. The Polity 10 May 2024 interview page opens and links a manifesto, but the extractor did not expose the download URL or policy transcript. No URL was guessed. Q2 therefore remains on the opened 2011 full-text municipal manifesto and is stale-confirmed. The prior assertion that a 2026 manifesto exists is withdrawn; campaign participation is not proof of a manifesto.
Parties and readers can challenge any score with a source. A person reviews every submission; accepted changes appear in the public changelog with the date and source.
Party positions were checked in September 2026 against manifestos, party statements and news reports. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. Changelog →
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