Parliament and police to provide security for Khoza

Parliament will be providing security for ANC MP Makhosi Khoza after a police assessment determined a security threat exists against her.

Khoza received death threats in April while the public service and administration committee, which she chairs‚ was conducting an oversight visit at health facilities in Mpumalanga.

Khoza was advised to submit a report to Parliament Speaker Baleka Mbete. The report was submitted by ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu.

“After processing the report internally to consider the appropriate course the institution should take‚ the speaker referred the matter to the South African Police Service,” said Parliament spokesman Moloto Mothapo. The South African Police Service “conducted a security assessment and submitted its report‚ with recommendations‚ on Thursday, July 13‚ for consideration by Parliament’s executive authority — the speaker of the National Assembly and the chairperson of the National Council of Provinces.

“The security assessment confirmed that a security threat existed and that appropriate support must be provided to Dr Khoza,” he said.

Parliament was working with the police to ensure the “two institutions collaboratively provide the necessary support to Dr Khoza as soon as possible,” he said.

Khoza has been the target of several other death threats since April‚ mostly because of her outspoken stance on President Jacob Zuma and corruption within the ANC.

Last week, she posted screen grabs of cellphone texts she had received in which she is warned she has 21 days to live if she supports the motion of no confidence against Zuma in August.

She said her daughter had also been threatened.