Free State MEC for education Casca Mokitlane, a former deputy-chairman of the ANC in the province, has joined the Congress of the People, Cope announced on Thursday.
"We are welcoming Casca to the party, he is an ANC veteran who has served in many ANC structures in the past and is someone with a strong history in the fight for freedom and democracy," secretary-general Charlotte Lobe told a press briefing.
She said Mokitlane also brought political experience, something which the party embraced, in the run-up to the general elections.
Cope also introduced four other ANC councillors from the Motheo district municipality and Mangaung local municipality (greater Bloemfontein areas) who joined the party on Thursday.
Mokitlane said he contacted Cope because it was time for him to move on. He said he resigned as MEC for education, member of the legislature and as ANC member.
"There are many reasons for my move, but one of the main reasons is the rampant patronage which is very prevalent in the Free State."
Mokitlane said the collapse of service delivery in many Free State municipalities could have been prevented if the ANC leadership had not misused, on several occasions, its "deployment".
"The administrative processes, which are not up to scratch in a number of municipalities, are due to the deployment of people by the leadership in position they do not have capacity for."
He said the Free State needed a new breath of fresh air and a new leadership.
"In the confines of the ANC, where internal democracy has actually collapsed, I could no longer find any way of ensuring that the principles of democracy could be upheld, as I had understood it when I joined the party."
Mokitlane said the move to Cope was not about positions within the ANC, but to help Cope realise a better future for South Africa.
Tatolo Nthejane, Motheo municipality councillor, said he and three others decided to leave the ANC after they were forced, as ANC councillors, to participate in an "unlawful" action.
"The ANC forced (Motheo) councillors to take a decision which was unlawful," he said, referring to the removal of Motheo executive mayor Faniswa Chaine from office in December 2008.
Free State ANC spokesman Teboho Sikisi said Mokitlane's resignation would have no impact on or implications for the ANC.
"Life goes on, there are many members who are competent that would make sure our programmes go on. It's business as usual."
Sikisi also denied the allegations of the Motheo councillors. - Sapa