Minister of Mineral Resources, Susan Shibangu accused Cope leader of being more brutal than the ANC,w hen he was Defence Minister. (SABC)
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COPE Leader Mosiuoa Lekota has asked the Speaker of the House to intervene in a spat between him and two cabinet ministers. However, the African National Congress (ANC) spokesperson, Luzuko Jacobs suggested that Lekota reads the National Assembly rules.
According to the rules, Lekota has a right to defend himself of any allegations, but he cannot use Parliament to do so. The Speaker's office says it will rule on the matter in due course.
On Tuesday, Ministers Susan Shabangu and Edna Molewa accused Lekota at the Parliamentary debate of having sent the Defence Force into Khutsong to shoot residents - that was when Lekota was still Defence Minister.
Shabangu accused Lekota of being more brutal than the ANC. "During your era as Minister of Defence, in Khutsong, you called soldiers to attack."
Minister of Water and Enviromental Affairs, Molewa was quick to rise in Shabangu's defence stating she is a living witness of that event. "Former Minister Lekota did that, I was there with him."
Lekota has vehemently denied these allegations. "This is unfounded, I have never sent soldiers to Khutsong to kill people it never happened." He has demanded a public apology from the ministers and filed a complaint with the Speaker.
The ministers could not be reached for comment.
