By Caiphius Kgosana
Businessman and ANC leader Tokyo Sexwale fiercely attacked Congress of the People for parading "old women" on TV, using them as witchcraft to attract support.
Sexwale was speaking at an ANC rally in Zwide township, outside Port Elizabeth, hardly 10km away from COPE rally in the same city.
Speaking mainly in isiXhosa, Sexwale said: "Our mothers are taken, house to house, they are also paraded on TV, these people are performing witchcraft with our mothers....They are liars. You can't have respect for people who use older people in that fashion," said Sexwale, adding that COPE lied that struggle veteran Fatima Meer had defected.
Sexwale's comments followed COPE announcing defectors and new members at the launch of its manifesto.
The defectors include the 92-year old mother of President Thabo Mbeki, Epainette and a veteran ANC MP Lillian Ma-Njobe.
Sexwale labeled COPE as an organisation harbouring racists.
"Those who were defeated are trying to join this organisation....Once you are applauded by your former enemies, there's something wrong with you. Some of these disappointed racists are looking for blacks to lead them," he said.
He said the ANC was not a violent organisation, adding that COPE's inflammatory statements were violent.
"If there is anything violent is the manner in which they have left the ANC, swearing at us that we are like PW Botha, but it is them who are behaving like Botha."
Sexwale said it was disappointing that the province such as Eastern Cape, which gave birth to the ANC, is now the poorest province in South Africa, promising that the soon-to-be set up ministry of planning would tackle this poverty and underdevelopment.
Cosatu general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, who also attended the rally, said it was surprising that former Eastern Cape premier-now-turned COPE leader Nosimo Balindlela - who failed to deliver - is now talking about failed services.
Balindlela was removed by the ANC as premier, together with her former Western Cape counterpart Ebrahim Rasool, last year.
The ANC rally at Dan Qeqe stadium, drew around 15 00 people.