Members of the Gauteng Cope Constituency Congress Committee demanded Lekota's resignation earlier this month.

This was resolved in a meeting held in July to discuss the party's difficulties with expansion, reconstruction, and renewal. This was one of the 10 resolutions the party passed in an effort to restore itself by taking "drastic action".

Lekota has not demonstrated the same level of strong leadership as in the past, according to Cope's Mxolisi Ntobela, who added that despite the fact that the party still respects its leader, he has breached Cope's constitution.

Lekota is also accused of interfering with the selection of party council members.

SABC