Onkgopotse JJ Tabane has been appointed spokesman for the Congress of the People, the organisation said on Sunday.

Tabane, former SAA spokesman and current corporate affairs executive at Altron, would join Cope on Monday, said the organisation in a statement.

Former Scorpions spokesman Sipho Ngwema was also quitting his job to become a Cope spokesman.

Both Ngwema and Tabane were joint winners of the government communicator of the year award in 2002.

Cope's Mbhazima Shilowa was quoted as saying: "We need a solid and successful communications machinery managed by people who have the know-how if we hope to build Cope into a force to be reckoned with and a party in waiting to govern this country."

Sapa