Cape Town - Patricia de Lille has called for the Hefer commission of inquiry to be broadened to investigate other high-ranking members of the ANC she named in parliament as alleged apartheid informers.

Her list of seven names included Justice Minister Penuell Maduna.

De Lille, now the leader of the Independent Democrats, made the appeal after Maduna yesterday challenged her in parliament to repeat her 1997 allegations to Judge Joos Hefer.

The Hefer commission is specifically looking into allegations that National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka was investigated during the 1980s by the ANC on suspicions that he was an informer for the security police, which Ngcuka denies.

Maduna was replying to a question by the Democratic Alliance's Sheila Camerer, who reminded him that his name was on an alleged list of "impimpis" six years ago and asked whether he, too, should be investigated.

"I challenge (De Lille) now to produce evidence that I ever worked for the National Party or its agencies," Maduna lashed out. "She was never able to repeat that outside (of parliamentary privilege)."

He said if Camerer believed De Lille's allegations and was able to prove them, he would resign immediately. "Patricia de Lille, your moment has come. Give (the evidence) to Judge Hefer."

Asked for comment, De Lille was unrepentant and said she would repeat in public the names of the seven ANC leaders whom she alleged were spies. "My problem with the ANC is that when they make accusations, they appoint a commission," she said.

With acknowledgement to the Daily News.