DA lays into ANC chief whip

2012-10-31 09:32

Mathole Motshekga (File, GCIS)

Cape Town - DA Chief Whip Watty Watson has laid into his ANC counterpart Mathole Motshekga over an interfaith ceremony hosted by Parliament at a cost of R2.1m, it was reported on Wednesday.

The Cape Times reported that Watson accused Motshekga of abusing Parliament for his own political agenda, and called the conference held at the Good Hope centre on Tuesday a "Zuma charm offensive".

He said he would write to National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu to demand a full account of how the event and its funding had come about.

Watson told the newspaper that R715 930 was spent on transport for delegates and R438 500 on catering.

President Jacob Zuma was the keynote speaker at the event, which was attended by around 1 500 people from faith-based organisations.

At the event, Motshekga congratulated Zuma on his hard work to unite religious people and said "everybody wants to see you using your second term as president of the [ANC] and president of the country to consolidate the good work you have started".

According to the newspaper, Watson said Motshekga appeared to have put the event together "for his own political gain".

Motshekga's spokesperson Moloto Mothapo reportedly accused the Democratic Alliance of undermining reconciliation efforts.

- SAPA