It is improper for public servants to be appointed on the basis of political affiliation, Congress of the People leader Terror Lekota said on Wednesday.

Addressing close to 300 people in Athlone, Cape Town, Lekota said Cope would do away with the practice of deploying party members in high-ranking government positions should it win the next elections.

"We will make sure that the public service is de-politicised... the men and women who will be appointed to run the administration of government will be appointed on the basis... that they have the best skills and expertise," he said.

Only people who could deliver the best services to all South Africans would be appointed.

It was important to de-politicise the public service to avoid the Zimbabwean kind of a situation where senior civil servants dictated who should be elected to political office.

"If you do not do that you will end up with a situation in Zimbabwe where you find that the police, the armed forces and the intelligence services say — even if the people as a whole elect you — you will not come into the State House because we are going to compel you," he said.

Lekota also criticised the current practice where civil servants were allowed to belong to unions affiliated to political parties.

He said civil servants should be non-partisan as all South Africans, irrespective of political affiliation, were paying taxes.

"You cannot have the police force allied to a political party because those of us who are not members of that particular party will not receive the same treatment on the hands of [such] policemen," he said.

Cope will officially be launched in Bloemfontein next week, where it is expected to unveil its policies.

Sapa