• Tweet

SAY SORRY:Cope president Mosiuoa Lekota

RELATED ARTICLES

• Lekota ordered out of parliament
• Officials tear into Lekota over audit of Cope funds
• Lekota calls for probe into R400,000 job

CONGRESS of the People (Cope) president and parliamentary leader Mosiuoa Lekota will fight accusations made by Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu and backed up by Water Affairs Minister Edna Molewa that he personally deployed the army during the 2005 to 2008 Khutsong uprisings.

Yesterday, Lekota said he would again write to the deputy speaker to request that Shabangu and Molewa retract the statements they made during last week's parliamentary debate into the Lonmin Marikana protests.

"I have been greatly maligned by these manufactured accusations that bear no semblance to the truth whatsoever," Lekota said.

During the debate, Shabangu challenged Lekota's comments that the use of deadly force by police was an infringement on the constitutional right to life.

She said Lekota, as then minister of defence, had been "more brutal" in unleashing the army in Khutsong.

Molewa came to Shabangu's defence, saying she could personally attest to Lekota's heavy handedness.

However, Lekota said objective academic research confirmed that at no stage were the army deployed to restore order.

"It is clear that ministers Shabangu and Molewa deliberately misled the house and wilfully and maliciously impugned my good name, and in doing so abused the privilege of the house."

Lekota said the Constitution also stated that the decision to deploy the army was solely in the hands of the president at the time, Thabo Mbeki.

Should a decision have been taken, the speaker of parliament would have a record of this, he said.

In terms of parliamentary processes, MPs and cabinet ministers are protected in the national assembly through parliamentary privilege.

Lekota also threw out a challenge to the ministers to repeat the allegations publicly so that he could approach the courts for relief.

Molewa said yesterday she felt Lekota had deliberately chosen not to hear exactly what Shabangu had said.

"She said he wanted to [send in the army], she didn't say he did. That was what I agreed with," Molewa said.

She said she was also not aware of a request by Lekota for an apology and that parliament processes needed to be followed.

Shabangu's spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Thu Jun 20 09:36:58 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 28, 2012

RobinH

How does one know when a politician is lying? It's easy. If his/her mouth moves, he is lying.
Report Abuse

Aug 28, 2012

Kaylae

"It is clear that ministers Shabangu and Molewa deliberately misled the house and wilfully and maliciously impugned my good name, and in doing so abused the privilege of the house."
__________________________________________________________________
With due respect what is good about your name NXA
Report Abuse

Aug 28, 2012

MommaC

LOL
SA politics. They even lie about their lies.
Report Abuse

Aug 28, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

Eish bafa mpya lerapo now we will never hear the end of this, Lekota honestly your good name???
Report Abuse

Aug 28, 2012

lindsay

they can't repaet it publicly because they are scared they were just talking in parliament because they was a pavvy thats why cowards
Report Abuse

Aug 28, 2012

Serene

and we are going to spend hours ,days,months debating even going to court about this matter right?
Report Abuse

Aug 28, 2012

januswanus

Shut up.
Report Abuse

Aug 28, 2012

Makhosini0408

Lekota must not patronise us. He must also shoulder the blame that he failed dismally during his tenure as the Minister of Defence. The less said about clowns of his calibre the better for us.
Report Abuse

Aug 28, 2012

Tikoloshe

.....That's it Terror, take on these ugly ANCWL Gogo's.....

In fact I think if they had a beauty competition for Cabinet MInisters, PuzaFace Nzimande would win hands down, that's how ugly these recycled Gogo's are.....same ugly faces recycled through all the different portfolio's over the last 18 years....
Report Abuse

Aug 28, 2012

Rockwell

Let's just say for argument sake that Lekota did send the troops to Khutsong as it is alleged, it would not have been at that time his personal decision but a decision of cabinet. And furthermore it was still the ANC that was in power then so what difference does it make. If it was wrong then it would still be wrong now. I find the parliamentary debates very shallow and childish to say the least. But in this case I do support the President of Cope to go all the way to clear his name and expose the lies of these members of the Anc who suffer from amnesia..
Report Abuse

Read all 65 comments