Is the African National Congress losing its best people to the newly formed rival Congress of the People? That is an argument being put forth in at least some circles. In response to another series of high-profile defections from the ANC to COPE Dirk Smit, Speaker of the City of Cape Town municipality, has asserted that not only the numb er of defections is disquieting, but the quality of those leaving the ANC raises concerns. The most compelling political question that will play out in South Africa, and arguably in all of Africa, in 2009, is whether or not COPE can provide a serious and legitimate challenge to the dominance of the ANC. Increasingly it appears that the upstarts will be able to do so.
