The Congress of the People(COPE) has declined an invitation to participate in a breakfast briefing with the Independent Electoral Chairperson, to be broadcast live on the SABC Morning Live show, on the grounds that it is not willing to fawn to business interests aligned with the Gupta family.

Said Johan Abrie, Head of Communications for COPE “The Guptas, through their publicly declared “friendship” with our country’s Head of State, have used their influence to humiliate South Africans and show no respect for the country’s sovereignty.

We find the Gupta’s business modus operandi undesirable and do not wish to be associated with their ventures beyond being subjects of reportage by their publications and broadcast media.”