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Cope's Mosiuoa Lekota

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• Mluleki George declares support for Lekota

During the presidency budget vote debate last Wednesday, Lekota accused President Jacob Zuma of violating his oath of office.

Lekota said, among other things, the president had failed to uphold his constitutional obligation to protect the rights of artist Brett Murray, who depicted Zuma with his genitals exposed, and City Press editor Ferial Haffajee, who refused to remove an image of the painting from the newspaper's website.

At the time, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande asked Deputy Speaker Nomaindia Mfeketo, who was in the chair, to rule whether Lekota could make such a "serious statement" about Zuma.

"If a member of this House can stand and make a serious statement that the president has violated his oath of office... Such a statement is a serious thing. Madam chair I ask you to rule," Nzimande said.

Mfeketo said the matter would be ruled on later.

On Tuesday, Mfeketo ruled that members could make such allegations of improper conduct only by way of a substantive motion and ordered Lekota to withdraw his remarks.

Lekota refused, saying his conscience would not allow him to withdraw.

He maintained he was exercising his constitutional right to freedom of speech in Parliament, accompanied by such privilege as enjoyed by MPs.

Mfeketo then ordered him to leave the chamber. As he left the House he was joined by a large number of Cope and Democratic Alliance MPs.

In a statement afterwards, ANC Chief Whip Mathole Motshekga welcomed Mfeketo's ruling.

"An allegation of violation of office by a head of state is a serious matter that cannot be made lightly or for mere political posturing, as Lekota has done," he said.

In terms of Parliament's established practice and procedures, an MP who wanted to bring allegations of improper conduct should do so by way of a substantive motion.

"Parliaments all over the world have in place rules, conventions, practices, and codes of conduct to which MPs must adhere in order to preserve decorum, respect, and prestige of the state's legislative organs."

The ruling by the deputy speaker would dissuade "opportunist" MPs from abusing freedom of speech and parliamentary privileges to impugn the integrity of others without following proper procedure, Motshekga said.

However, Lekota said the truth remained that in debate on the president's budget vote, where the president was present, members could assert, on the basis of argument, that the president had indeed violated his oath of office. It was then for the president to respond.

Zuma had opportunity to rebut this accusation and in no way did it merit the withdrawal of the point by Lekota on the basis of the ruling by the deputy speaker.

The ruling gave no cognisance to the nature and scope of the debate taking place and the fact that the member of the executive could be challenged to the extent that he was by Lekota.

"Cope believes the ruling party has made a miscalculation of gargantuan proportion in attempting to curtail criticism of the president in the House, where the president has equal standing with all other members," Lekota said.

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Fri May 24 13:02:31 SAST 2013 ::

Jun 12, 2012

Mudidi

hamba nja
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Jun 12, 2012

MobBim

it shows that ANC puppets are coward they are afraid of challenge Lekota raised valid point...
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Jun 12, 2012

unzah

there will be no peace amongst the ANC comdradea until they bloody tell us the truth about all those ada pple they ratted out in the struggle
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Jun 12, 2012

viva

Lekota must find peace within himself he is very bitter. He needs serious counselling since 1994 his record has not been clean. For to refer to the NeoNazi makes me doubt his intergrity. Yes he was in Robben Island so what the very same people who put him there marched out with him. Bra Lekota ANC is a giant, a gaint that defeated NP come back home prodical son. Otherwise your profile is getting weaker and poorer every year. You shouldn't be dancing with DA no, no, no. You are not Lindiwes class. You can do better than this. Wake up before its too late. You are killing your reputation. You must leave and die like a hero. Tlo ge la magoa.
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Jun 12, 2012

viva

Some of the people who followed you actually most of them collaborated with the regime. Don't celebrate this its not good for you and your children. You failed as a primier, you failed as a minister now you want to fail as a freedom fighter and entertain division. Where is Mbhazima reconcille with him. Get help mfowethu
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Jun 13, 2012

kutsukuyi

I have a question for ZUMA supporters. Did ZUMA protect Brett Murray rights, Yes or No?
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Jun 13, 2012

LeparaThePresident

@Mudidi
hamba nja
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Cdr @Mudidi, One Greeck Philosopher Socrates postulated these in his time " First he postulated the three T test, i guess you have heard about them." And then he went on to postulate this norm , i quote" Criticism is futile is like a homing pigeon it always returns home" . So, coming to hamba nja your comment, i found it loosely infantile. We are all members/supporters of ANC/YL. But hey facts are fact, if you have seen the parliament debate you should have have seem Lekota read from a parliament book note some act as reference to his utterance. People like you, Mathole Motshekga,Blade and the Mfeneko the house speaker are blinded by what Blade would call indigestive-feeble-rhetoric- support for JZ, of which i would not have any qualms with you if you do. Its your freedom of expression. Listen to facts before blurbe.
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Jun 13, 2012

LeparaThePresident

@kutsukuyi
I have a question for ZUMA supporters. Did ZUMA protect Brett Murray rights, Yes or No?

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I bet you they will call you names if they can respond. A sign indicative to ill-mannerism and lacking thoughts.
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Jun 13, 2012

hulas

The point on the table is Zuma failed to protect the rights of a citizen.When anc mobilized their blind supporters to intimidate and threaten a law abiding citizen in his name he kept quite.The oath of his office states clearly that the president shall protect the constitution and citizens rights and in this case he failed to so.
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Jun 13, 2012

PrincessJB

Lekota must not back down,viva Lekota Viva
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