Mluleki george biography

Political party in South Africa

The Congress of the People (COPE) is a South African political party formed in by former members of the African National Congress (ANC). The party was founded by former ANC members Mosiuoa Lekota, Mbhazima Shilowa and Mluleki George to contest the general election. The party was announced following a national convention held in Sandton on 1 November , and was founded at a congress held in Bloemfontein on 16 December The name echoes the Congress of the People at which the Freedom Charter was adopted by the ANC and other parties, a name strongly contested by the ANC in a legal move dismissed by the Pretoria High Court.

In the general election, the party received 1,, votes and a % share of the vote. Following the elections, COPE experienced a leadership dispute between factions supporting Mosiuoa Lekota and others supporting Mbhazima Shilowa, that led to a court battle, and continued into After the election, COPE was left with only three seats in the National Assembly, down from 30 seats in

Despite its reduced stature, the party has joined with the much larger Democratic Alliance (DA) and several other smaller parties to co-govern Nelson Mandela Bay, Johannesburg and Tshwane after the municipal elections.

COPE had its worst performance at the national and provincial elections by garnering a mere percent of the votes. The party failed to secure a single seat in parliament as result of this poor performance.

History

52nd ANC national conference

Main article: 52nd National Conference of the African National Congress

The birth of the party can be traced back to the 52nd ANC national conference held at Polokwane in December The conference resulted in the election of Jacob Zuma and his supporters, ahead of Thabo Mbeki and his supporters, to the ANC's governing body, the Natio

Athletics South Africa (ASA) on Wednesday mourned the death of Mluleki Editor George, who passed away at the age of 72 on Tuesday.

George would have turned 73 on 2 February.

The versatile George has been the Honourary Board Member of ASA since its formation in , though he never held an elected position at the organisation. He has held this position up to his eternal rest this week.

The veteran politician and sports administrator holds a special place in the history and hearts of ASA for his incredible and immeasurable role in the unification of the then warring factions namely the South Africa Athletics Congress and South African Amateur Athletics Union.

Following the formation of the National Sports Council (NSC) in /8 after Mluleki George, Bill Jardin and others had returned from meeting the African National Congress in exile, the warring parties were brought to the table to form what is now Athletics South Africa in

The NSC was formed to prepare unification of the individual sporting codes and lead them to the eventual lifting of the sporting boycott against South Africa primarily by the world bodies including World Athletics (called IAAF then), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and others. The NSC also carried the mandate for development and transformation.

George, who was president of the NSC, was then assigned to monitor and nurse the new ASA as former foes began to find their footing as they began to work together.

At a time when the IOC’s Juan Antonio Samaranch and the IAAF’s Primo Nebiolo were considering which body would accept South Africa first, for athletics the NSC gave the task to speed up compliance to George, Mthobi Tyamzashe, John Ncinane (deceased), Mvuzo Mbebe (deceased) and Bernard Bailey to assist. This race against time saw to ASA's participation at the Barcelona Olympic Games in and the World Championships in

“Athletics has lost a champion of our unity and renewed stability that ASA h

South African politician (–)

Mluleki Editor George (2 February – 5 January ) was a South African activist, politician and sports administrator. He served as a Deputy Minister of Defence from to

Political career

George joined the banned African National Congress (ANC) in , and was arrested by the apartheid government, and sentenced to five years in prison in , some of which he spent on Robben Island. On his release, he was a founder member of the United Democratic Front in

He was elected as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa for the ANC in the first non-racial elections in , and remained in the role until Originally elected as a member of the ANC, he along with a number of other Thabo Mbeki supporters, he joined the breakaway Congress of the People after the election of Jacob Zuma as party president in

He served as treasurer-general of the Congress of the People.

In , disillusioned by the leadership of leader Mosiuoa Lekota, he founded a new political party, the United Congress, which he said would restore the moral fibre of society.

Sport career

George had a long career in sports administration, with his first high-profile role being president of the Border Rugby Union. He held this role until , when he was arrested. After his release from prison, he was again elected president, and remained in the position from to

George was a founder member of the National Sports Council in , a founder and executive member of the National Olympic Committee of South Africa in , and chairperson of the South African Football Association for the first year of its existence, from

He was president of the National Sports Council and United Border Rugby Union from to , a vice-president of the South African Rugby Football Union from until and a member of the International Rugby Board from to

George was a board member of South African Rugby Union from

Death

George died from

Nonkundla also thanked him for loving her. She promised to fulfil his dreams and said she was letting him go.

“We will meet again in the next life,” she said, adding they always thought she would die first.

George’s younger sister, Thembakazi, thanked him for being more than a brother.

She said George always had teary eyes when he recalled how their father asked him to look after his siblings before he died.

“He was a father to us, he was a mentor. We thank him for all he did for us.”

George’s grandchildren, Siya and Aqhama, described him as “an angel before you became one”.

“A part of me is sad that I never got to say goodbye but I know you will always be here and a part of our lives. I love you tatomkhulu.”

George was a founding member of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in

He was arrested and sentenced to five years on Robben Island for his activism.

After the elections, he was elected as an ANC MP.

In , he defected to form COPE with other unhappy ANC members.

Finance MEC Mlungisi Mvoko described George as an organic intellectual who belonged to a rare breed of leaders.

“Tshangisa was a battle-tested revolutionary.”

After serving his five-year sentence, George came out more determined to fight the apartheid system, Mvoko said.

George was a trusted leader with whom one could go to war, he said.

The MEC said today’s leaders should take lessons from George and not abuse political power.

When the ANC had self-corrected, George returned to the party, Mvoko said.

Paying tribute to George, Mthobi Tyamzashe, a special adviser to sport minister Nathi Mthethwa, described the anti-apartheid activist as a brother, friend and a leader.

“Tshangisa and I never discussed what role we would play in each other’s funerals because we are not very emotional people.

“However, I know Tshangisa would question me [if I did not speak at his funeral].

“He was truly one of a kind.”

Tyamzashe said Geo