JOHANNESBURG - The Congress of the People (Cope) is not a mafikizolo party, says party spokesperson Dennis Bloem.
This comes after Dr Murunwa Makwarela was elected Tshwane mayor on Tuesday.
Bloem says Makwarela is no one's proxy.
"We are long in the struggle, we have rights," says Bloem.
"We are a respectable party," he adds.
The party said its honoured that its member Makwarela has been elected as Tshwane mayor.
Cope Deputy President Willie Madisha says they're looking forward to the new mayor's work in correcting the dire state of governance in the city.
Madisha says the new executive mayor needs to have a capable team of people behind him, who have the interests of the residents at heart.
He wants to see people with the right qualifications helping the mayor to take the city forward.