Former defence minister and chairperson of the Congress of the People, Terror Lekota, has applied for an extension of police VIP protection, the SABC reported on Tuesday.

His lawyers had confirmed that letters were sent to Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa and acting police commissioner Tim Williams.

Lekota had earlier received a letter from Williams informing him that the security personnel provided to him would be withdrawn.

Lekota reportedly protested against the move saying there was still a threat to his life. His lawyers were expecting to receive a response on Wednesday afternoon.

ANC takes legal action against Cope

Meanwhile, the ANC on Tuesday served legal papers on Terror Lekota's breakaway party for using the name Congress of the People, officials said.

The papers include a demand that all promotional material bearing Cope's name must be delivered to the African National Congress for destruction, said its spokesperson Carl Niehaus.

The ANC argues that the Congress of the People in 1955 was a "seminal, historical event" organised by the ANC and its congress alliance partners.

Niehaus said the ANC was also concerned about the fact that "in many political circles, the ANC is commonly referred to as the Congress of the People".

Cope spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama confirmed that the party had been served with legal papers.

Ngonyama said it would "definitely" continue to use the name Cope.

"They [Cope's lawyers] will definitely be giving attention to it," said Ngonyama.

Sapa