I SOLEMNLY DECLARE THAT, FROM THE TIME I AM RECOGNISED AS A BONA FIDE MEMBER OF THE CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE (COPE), AND TO THAT EFFECT ACCEPT MY MEMBERSHIP CARD, AND FOR AS LONG AS REMAIN A MEMBER;
1. I SHALL BE A PATRIOTIC SOUTH AFRICAN, and accordingly discharge my responsibility to protect, and defend the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, to exercise my right and responsibility to vote at all times, and mobilise other South Africans to do the same, and to defend our hard won freedom by contributing to building a prosperous country for all.
2. I SHALL ABIDE BY, AND BE LOYAL TO, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE, a party with its historic roots in the congress movement of our country whose vision for South Africa, the Freedom Charter , was adopted at the Congress of the People in Kliptown in 1955;
3. I SHALL MOBILSE SOUTH AFRICANS TO JOIN, SUPPORT AND/OR VOTE FOR THE CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE and contribute to making it the natural political home for all South Africans committed to building a country of prosperity for all, in which all citizens are, and feel, protected to exercise their rights and responsibilities without fear or favour, as well as avail myself to serve the Party where I feel competent and ready while respecting the decision of the Party on that as final;
4. I SHALL RESPECT THE PARTY AND SOCIETAL VALUES seeking at all times to align, through my conduct and pronouncements, the broader societal values with those of the Party, respect and protect all the Party and national symbols as well as the oath of public office;
5. I SHALL TREAT ALL PARTY MEETINGS, CONFERENCES AND CONGRESSES WITH UTMOST RESPECT, GUARD THEIR INTEGRITY AND UPHOLD THEIR DIGNITY, recognising their critical role as centres of entrenching a solid culture of participatory, accountable and democratic governance in the Party and therefore society, will prepare myself to contribute effectively in the meetings to ensure their successful conclusion, and will not, unless so officially authorised, divulge the content or any aspect of what takes place in them to any third party, gathering, the media, social media or any form of electronic or other public communication means, failing which such conduct shall be a serious misconduct and be subject to the Party’s disciplinary processes;
6. I SHALL RESPECT AND ABIDE BY THE DECISIONS OF THE PARTY and not denounce such decisions or attack the character or person of, or disrespect in any way, any leader or member of the Party, to or through any third party, gathering, the media, social media or any form of electronic or other public communication means, or act in any way that may bring confusion in the minds of the members of the Party or public or saw division or factionalism in the ranks of the Party;
7. I SHALL CONTRIBUTE TO ENSURING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN THE PARTY and country, respect the leadership elected, and if not satisfied and believe that the results of the elections may be, or have been, compromised in any way, I will use proper channels and procedures agreed to respect the final outcomes of such processes, procedures or structures;
8. I SHALL ABIDE BY THE PARTY CODE OF CONDUCT, DISCIPLINARY POLICY AND PROCESSES and shall not do anything that may bring the name of the Party or the country into disrepute or behave in a manner that is in any way divisive, factional or amounts to the abuse of power;
9. I SHALL AT ALL TIMES CONDUCT MYSELF IN A MANNER THAT INSPIRES HOPE as well as represents and carries the aspirations of all the people of South Africa in their diversity;
10. I SHALL CONTRIBUTE TO ENSURING THAT OUR PARTY AND COUNTRY play their respective roles as forces for progressive change and stability for a better Africa and humane world based on a human rights culture that respects the equality of peoples and nations in principle and in practice.