Johannesburg - More than 800 people left out of Cope's national congress will support the UDM in the elections, its leader Bantu Holomisa said on Monday.
The 800 delegates representing Congress of the People branches from eight provinces held their own summit in Bloemfontein, he said, reading from a statement by himself and Mbhazima Shilowa, leader of the breakaway Cope faction.
“The summit mandated Mr Mbhazima to engage with the United Democratic Movement to take the realignment debate forward. The result of the talks between the two delegations was that these branches will support and mobilise for the UDM in the forthcoming general elections,” Holomisa said.
The process of integration was underway. However, Shilowa would not be party to the integration for personal reasons.
“We call on all South Africans, especially those who voted Congress of the People in the last elections, to rally behind the UDM in the forthcoming elections.” - Sapa