Pretoria - Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Susan Shabangu, has demanded an apology from the broadcaster, eNews (eNCA), for reporting that she said Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is a “liar”.
Last week, Minister Shabungu, who is also the former minister for Mineral Resources, testified at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry, where she was asked to recount a discussion she had with Deputy President Ramaphosa the day before 16 August 2012, where 34 miners were shot and killed. The Deputy President was a Director of Lonmin at that time.
The ministry says there is nowhere in Minister Shabangu’s evidence, even from the official transcript of the proceedings, where she stated that “Ramaphosa (is) a liar” as widely reported by eNews.
“Minister Shabangu … denies that she called Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa a liar, as reported by eNCA,” her office said on Saturday.
Responding to a question by Advocate Dali Mpofu, who represents the arrested and injured miners, Minister Shabangu said at the inquiry:
“Your own words, Mr Mpofu. Mr Chairman, I haven’t lied. I have presented myself to this Commission.” When asked by Mpofu whether, “if we accept that, then he’s the one that is presenting something that is not actually true?”
Minister Shabangu responded, “Mr Chairman, I can’t answer on behalf of Mr Ramaphosa”.
When Mpofu said that “anyone who says you changed your characterisation is lying,” Judge Farlam intervened and said that: “It doesn’t follow from the fact that the witnesses’ evidence conflict that one or other is lying. There’s also the possibility that one of them is mistaken”.
Minister Shabangu’s spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, said the false report by eNCA, which was widely published on national television and in printed media, has caused significant embarrassment.
“Minister Shabangu has referred the matter to her legal advisers and demands an apology and retraction from eNews,” Modiba said.
The commission – chaired by retired Judge Ian Farlam – was set up by President Zuma to look into the tragic events which took place around the Marikana mine in Rustenburg, in the North West, in 2012.
At least 44 people were killed, while roughly 70 were injured and over 250 were arrested in the wake of strike-related unrest. – SAnews.gov.za
