Former Joburg Speaker and Congress of the People (Cope) member, Colleen Makhubele, recently made headlines after being sacked from the Joburg Council. Makhubele alleges that she was fired because she had the courage to lead and voice her ambition.
Makhubele’s dismissal came after posters with her face were displayed on street poles across the city, urging residents to register to vote for the “birth of a new nation” ahead of the 2024 general elections.
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However, Cope claimed that Makhubele had “lied” about the party’s involvement in the newly-formed coalition pact, the South African Rainbow Alliance (Sara). According to Cope’s national chair, Tebogo Loate, this transgression was equivalent to effective expulsion as it had not been approved or declared to the party.
Speaking out about her termination, Makhubele stated, “I was fired because I dared to believe that I can lead, that I can lead Sara and the nation of South Africa. I was fired because I had the courage to voice my ambition… The men feel they are entitled to lead.”
Makhubele further claimed that she was not consulted about her dismissal and expulsion from the party, asserting that the allegations against her were “lies.” She clarified that she did not “join anything” and emphasized that Sara was an alliance, of which she was a member until her termination.
“President (Mosioua) Lekota was a president emeritus of this with us, he was here as a member of this alliance. So, nobody has joined any party… So all of those things are lies to tarnish Sara,” Makhubele explained.
Addressing the misconception that she had voluntarily left Cope, Colleen Makhubele stated, “They have it wrong, I was terminated, I didn’t leave, I was fired.
“We were sitting here waiting for President Lekota to come to a meeting on Monday. We were all not aware, he told [us] he is not feeling well he’s got urgent meetings somewhere in Kempton Park.
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“I get calls from reporters to say you are fired. I was not told, I was not consulted, I was never even [given] an opportunity to make my representation because the journey we took here was with President Lekota side by side from day one,” she added.
Despite her termination, Makhubele revealed that she had decided not to challenge it in court.
[WATCH] "I was fired because I had the courage to voice my ambition. The men feel they are entitled to lead." – Former Joburg council speaker #ColleenMakhubele, who was fired from COPE. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/kSGkUUjSxe
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) November 15, 2023
