Congress of the People (Cope) President Mosiuoa Lekota has described calls for former President Thabo Mbeki and those who served under him to be charged with genocide as an irresponsible and dangerous distortion of the history of the country.

Lekota was responding to calls made by amongst others, the Young Communist League, for Mbeki to be charged for his alleged mishandling of the HIV/Aids issue during his term of office. Lekota says for a crime of genocide to be committed there must be a deliberate policy or decision to kill people. He says there was no such decision either by the ANC or cabinet during Mbeki’s term.

He says while there was no failure in policy by the previous government, it could have improved on its communication strategy around the fight against the pandemic. Lekota says if evidence can be produced to prove that the Mbeki administration is guilty, he will step down as Cope's  leader.