Lekota with Malema prior to them being separated at a public land hearing. Picture: EFF/Twitter
South Africans were divided after Congress of the People (Cope) leader Mosiuoa Lekota’s accusation in parliament on Wednesday that President Cyril Ramaphosa sold out during the struggle in the 1970s.
He received a standing ovation from the Economic Freedom Fighters and some DA MPs.
ANC MP Bathabile Dlamini was the first to criticise Lekota and also made accusations against him that he also wanted to sell out.
She said: “There is a problem when we approach elections, you see Terror Lekota got here and spoke, now issues about him are flying on social media that there are also accusations he is facing that he was selling out when they were returning from Steve Biko’s funeral, he asked to get off the bus at an isolated dark spot on the way in a veld where there was no transport and later the bus was stopped by the Special Branch and comrades were arrested.”
South Africans also took to social media to praise him for apparently revealing what happened during the struggle, though some criticised him, saying he was in no place to condemn Ramaphosa when he was also “hanging out” with AfriForum.
The hashtag #RamaphosaSoldOut has been trending since, with people sharing their views on the matter.
Lekota’s former colleague Mbhazima Shilowa also took to social media to share his views and said: “My President is crazy. Bofolo or Weskoppies?” The general consensus was that he had to be taken to Weskoppies.
Mayihlome Tshwete criticised Lekota for only speaking out now when it was “convenient” to him.
Some, however, praised him and said it did not matter that Lekota made this allegation now, what was important, according to them, was that the truth came out.
“702 callers and journalists are having a meltdown about #RamaphosaSoldOut. They ask why @MTLekota is talking now. I mean what nonsense is this? If a rape victim comes to disclose that she was raped 30 years later, should we question why is she telling us now?,” asked Twitter user Thabiso, while @Zodiac-Rebel said: “I believe Terror Terror is not Black Conscious but he is honest. When the guy declared that Land Expropriation without compensation was not the true ANC posture or character & even TM agreed. One thing you guys missed is that he was telling the truth about ANC #RamaphosaSoldOut.”
These were some of the comments on social media:
Lekota accuses Ramaphosa of being rewarded for ‘selling out’
Lekota caused mayhem in parliament on Wednesday after turning down Ramaphosa’s invitation to a “trip”, saying the only trip he had wanted to go on with him had taken place in the 1970s when those in the struggle were sent to Robben Island to be imprisoned for their political beliefs.
Lekota was imprisoned on the island in the 1970s.
Read more: Lekota accuses Ramaphosa of being rewarded for ‘selling out’ during apartheid
(Compiled by Vhahangwele Nemakonde)
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