Abduction 'a cowardly act'

2008-10-11 11:42

Johannesburg - The abduction of former African National Congress national chairperson Mosiuoa Lekota's bodyguard is a cowardly criminal act, the ANC said on Saturday.

"The ANC neither subscribes nor supports any form of violence to settle political differences.

"This is nothing else but a cowardly criminal act which has no relation with Lekota's criticism of the ANC leadership," said the party in a statement.

On Friday, Lekota's bodyguard, Sello Mpyaatona, was abducted by armed gunmen outside Pretoria.

Lekota told Sapa the incident appeared to be related to his criticism of the new African National Congress leadership earlier in the week.

"One of the abductors told him, 'this party you and Lekota want to form, you will form in heaven'."

Lekota said his bodyguard was accosted at about 09:00 after visiting his medical doctor at Section JJ in Soshanguve, northwest of Pretoria.

He was made to stop his car by an armed man who then got in and told him to drive.

"Sello was directed to follow a gravel road and later ordered to stop in a field. After searching the car, they took two cellphones, Sello's watch, about R5 000 in cash, and the car keys," said Lekota.

He said the remark about a new party was made by one of the gunmen before they left in another car.

The ANC said on Saturday it condemned the abduction and urged the SA police to bring the perpetrators to book.

The party said it stood by the constitutional right to free speech and association.

"We respect Lekota's democratic right to express his views on any issue and his right to form a political party.

"The practice of multi-party democracy accommodates the formation of new parties.

"In democracies around the world, it is a normal occurrence in the hustle and bustle of politics, and South Africa is no exception," said the party.

The ANC said it was working hard preparing for next year's election and did not want to be detracted from its mission.

Meanwhile Gauteng police said on Saturday that there were no reported cases of abduction or of kidnapping in Soshanguve or Pretoria North.

Gauteng acting provincial head Superintendent Lungelo Dlamini said he had no reports of abductions or kidnappings and had not received any reports relating to the ex-minister's bodyguard.

- SAPA