I was never a spy, Cyril tells Lekota

President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday gave his version of events in the spat between him and Congress of the People leader Mosiuoa Lekota, following Lekota’s accusation Ramaphosa had “sold out” to security forces during apartheid.

“Lekota is correct in saying we were detained in the same trial event in 1974,” Ramaphosa said.

He said his arrest during a South African Students Organisation (Saso) march on the Mankweng police station was quite “dramatic” and he was transported to Pretoria Central Prison where he was kept in solitary confinement “for a solid six months before anyone came to talk to me”.

“At the time, my father was a police sergeant and through his efforts I finally got to see him and he explained ‘they say they have a lot of things against you. What did you do?.’ I explained and he said, ‘my son, I understand’,” said Ramaphosa.

“Later they started interrogating me, which was quite vicious, They wanted me to give evidence against accused number one Saths Cooper, Muntu Myeza accused number two, Terror Lekota accused number three and a number of others.” Known as the Saso 9, the others were Strini Moodley, Aubrey Mokoape, Nkwenkwe Nkomo, Zithulele Cindi, Muntu Myeza, Pandelani Nefolovhodwe and Kaborone Sedibe.

“And I refused. They thought they would use my dad to put pressure on me to become a state witness. I refused. I said I will not do it,” Ramaphosa said.

It was his neighbour in an adjacent cell who told Ramaphosa he had decided to become a state witness, who eventually testified against Lekota and the others. Throughout Lekota sat glowering.

“Beware of the wedge driver, watch his poisonous snake,” said Ramaphosa, quoting Oliver Tambo. “I can testify I have never, ever, been a spy. I’ve never worked with the enemy. All I’ve ever done with my life is my commitment to the people of our country,” said Ramaphosa.