Hefer commission should probe seven 'spies' says De Lille
2003-09-26. Patricia de Lille has called for the Hefer commission of inquiry to be broadened to investigate other high-ranking members of the ANC she named in parliament as alleged apartheid informers.
Her list of seven names included
Justice Minister Penuell Maduna.
De Lille, now leader of the Independent Democrats, made the appeal after Maduna challenged her in parliament yesterday to repeat her 1997 allegations to judge Joos Hefer.
The Hefer commission is specifically looking into allegations that national director of public prosecutions (NDPP), Bulelani Ngcuka, was investigated during the 1980s by the ANC on suspicion that he was an informer for the security police, which Ngcuka denies.
Maduna was replying to a question by the Democratic Alliance's Sheila Camerer, who reminded him that his name was on an alleged list of impimpis six years ago and asked whether he too should be investigated.
"I challenge (De Lille) now to produce evidence that I ever worked for the national party or its agencies," Maduna lashed out. "She was never able to repeat that outside" (of parliamentary privilege).
He said if Camerer believe De Lille's allegations and was able to prove them, he would resign immediately.
Asked for comment, however, De Lille was unrepentant and
said she would repeat in public the names of the seven ANC leaders whom she alleged were spies.
"My problem with the ANC is that when they themselves make accusations, they appoint a commission," she said.
"At the time I also asked for a commission of inquiry into several MPs and nothing happened, except that a month later then deputy president Thabo Mbeki called on the Truth Commission (TRC) to probe such allegations."
She said judge Hefer's terms of reference should be broadened to also investigate her allegations. Repeating the names, including Muduna's, she vowed to testify to the commission.
In a recent interview, Maduna told Independent Newspapers about how hurt he was by De Lille's allegations.
"She lied that I was working for the other side," he said.
"I want to appeal to her to produce the evidence ... time has failed to heal that wound."
He said he had a proud record of having participated in the struggle and wanted De Lille to apologise.
"I pleaded with Archbishop Desmond Tutu (TRC chairman) to call her to the commission ... and he did me a disservice by not calling her when he had power to do so...," Maduna said.
"Today the (TRC) report would have told the country who those people were and if I was one of them.
"There is nothing in the report."
Camerer also asked Maduna whether Ngcuka had received security clearance when he was appointed as NDPP and whether the spy allegations surfaced during such clearance.
Maduna said Ngcuka did not receive a security clearance.
The appointment was made by former president Nelson Mandela in terms of the constitution.
A cursory reading of the relevant section and legislation regarding the NDPP clearly indicated a security clearance was never a legal requirement for the appointment.
He said former transport minister Mac Maharaj, among those who brought the allegations against Ngcuka, was present in 1998 when the cabinet approved Ngcuka's appointment, and did not object.
De Lille, now leader of the Independent Democrats, made the appeal after Maduna challenged her in parliament yesterday to repeat her 1997 allegations to judge Joos Hefer.
The Hefer commission is specifically looking into allegations that national director of public prosecutions (NDPP), Bulelani Ngcuka, was investigated during the 1980s by the ANC on suspicion that he was an informer for the security police, which Ngcuka denies.
Maduna was replying to a question by the Democratic Alliance's Sheila Camerer, who reminded him that his name was on an alleged list of impimpis six years ago and asked whether he too should be investigated.
"I challenge (De Lille) now to produce evidence that I ever worked for the national party or its agencies," Maduna lashed out. "She was never able to repeat that outside" (of parliamentary privilege).
He said if Camerer believe De Lille's allegations and was able to prove them, he would resign immediately.
Asked for comment, however, De Lille was unrepentant and
said she would repeat in public the names of the seven ANC leaders whom she alleged were spies.
"My problem with the ANC is that when they themselves make accusations, they appoint a commission," she said.
"At the time I also asked for a commission of inquiry into several MPs and nothing happened, except that a month later then deputy president Thabo Mbeki called on the Truth Commission (TRC) to probe such allegations."
She said judge Hefer's terms of reference should be broadened to also investigate her allegations. Repeating the names, including Muduna's, she vowed to testify to the commission.
Published in the Cape Times
By Christelle TerreblancheIn a recent interview, Maduna told Independent Newspapers about how hurt he was by De Lille's allegations.
"She lied that I was working for the other side," he said.
"I want to appeal to her to produce the evidence ... time has failed to heal that wound."
He said he had a proud record of having participated in the struggle and wanted De Lille to apologise.
"I pleaded with Archbishop Desmond Tutu (TRC chairman) to call her to the commission ... and he did me a disservice by not calling her when he had power to do so...," Maduna said.
"Today the (TRC) report would have told the country who those people were and if I was one of them.
"There is nothing in the report."
Camerer also asked Maduna whether Ngcuka had received security clearance when he was appointed as NDPP and whether the spy allegations surfaced during such clearance.
Maduna said Ngcuka did not receive a security clearance.
The appointment was made by former president Nelson Mandela in terms of the constitution.
A cursory reading of the relevant section and legislation regarding the NDPP clearly indicated a security clearance was never a legal requirement for the appointment.
He said former transport minister Mac Maharaj, among those who brought the allegations against Ngcuka, was present in 1998 when the cabinet approved Ngcuka's appointment, and did not object.
