Former Western Cape ANC chairperson James Ngculu has given a clear indication he is about to defect to the Congress of the People.
Ngculu has joined the crowds headed to Port Elizabeth for COPE's manifesto launch on Saturday.
Speculation has been rife in Western Cape circles that Ngculu is about to cross over since he relinquished his ANC chairmanship to Mcebisi Skwatsha.
He has denied that he has defected to COPE, but his presence at the manifesto launch confirms ANC suspicions that he has crossed over.
COPE supporters descended on the Eastern Cape coastal city ahead of its manifesto launch.
On Friday evening, the party hosted a huge gala dinner where they wooed businessmen and Port Elizabeth's who's who. Tables cost R20 000 and had apparently all been snapped up by early evening.
COPE sources said talks with former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka were at an advanced stage and chances were good she would attend the launch on Saturday.
Speculation over whether Mlamabo-Ngcuka will cross over to COPE has been fuelled by ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, who this week said the party was aware she was in contact with COPE.
The party is expected to parade a number of high-profile defectors, including former cabinet ministers, ANC MPs who failed to make the cut-off time for registration, and other provincial leaders.
COPE deputy leader Mbhazima Shilowa hinted this week that businessman and former ANC NEC member Saki Macozoma was on the point of defecting to the party.
COPE has been battling to live up to its pre-launch hype and expectations of massive defections of ANC members aligned to former president Thabo Mbeki.
The manifesto launch coincides with the ANC's list selection process, which allows party hopefuls to finally know where they stand regarding Parliament and the provincial legislatures.
This will be COPE's final chance to live up to its promise and reveal the big names it may have bagged.
So far only a few MPs have resigned and publicly joined COPE, despite earlier indications that as many as 100 parliamentarians were on the verge of jumping ship.
The ANC has responded to the threat by ensuring the provinces made provision on their lists for those who might otherwise choose to defect.
COPE spokesperson Philip Dexter confirmed the party was preparing to reveal the names of a number of high-profile defectors at the launch.
He said COPE had worked hard to ensure it attracted quality leaders who would add substance to the party.
About 50 000 people are expected to flock to Port Elizabeth's Wolfsen Stadium in KwaZakhele to attend the launch.
COPE has boasted it would not bus in people from other provinces, but would rely solely on supporters from the Eastern Cape to fill the stadium.
COPE claims it has more than 150 000 paid-up members in the province, an area highly contested by it and the ANC.
The ANC had its manifesto launch in East London a fortnight ago.
It has organised a provincial manifesto launch on Saturday in Zwide, about 10km from the venue of the COPE event.
Head of elections Fikile Mbalula and Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi will address it.
Afro pop group Jaziel Brothers and a host of other local artists have been lined up to entertain the crowds at the manifesto launch.
- Visit iol.co.za for live updates on the launch of COPE's manifesto.