Khoza rejects offer of govt protection

ANC MP Makhosi Khoza has rejected offers of government and police guards, saying she cannot accept protection from the very people who have placed her in “heightened danger”.

Khoza posted on her Facebook page yesterday that “I cannot expect my ‘executioner’ to plead mercy for me”.

The comment came after Khoza was officially charged by the ANC KwaZulu-Natal with indiscipline following her outspoken criticism of President Jacob Zuma and state capture.

Khoza wrote: “I started re- ceiving death threats over three months ago and I filed police reports over two months ago.

“I begged parliament for protection for myself and my family. This was denied to me.

“I therefore took action and sourced my own protection ser- vices. It was only when the matter was recently thrust into the public domain by media reports, were services suddenly offered.”

She went on: “It is clear to me that I cannot accept pro- tection from the same people that have been so reckless in their be- haviour and who themselves have placed me in heightened danger. “Minister of police and his deputy have taken to public platforms to aggressively criticise me and level completely false and defamatory accusations at me. “Despite this, I am now expected, after months of being ignored, to accept security services from the very people who seek to challenge me. “Based on the action of the minister and his deputy, I have little basis upon which to trust the protection that he has

My ANC suffocates reason, morality and ethical behaviour.

offered. While I am grateful that the police have finally recognised the legitimacy of my threats, I owe it to my family and myself to continue using the protection that I have already arranged.”

Khoza asked why she was being singled out by the ANC after “several senior ANC officials, including members of parliament, have publicly raised their concerns regarding our president”.

“No action has been taken against those individuals.”

She said the ANC “will not tolerate dissenting voices and these charges are proof of that”.

She added: “I’m being persecuted because I can no longer toe the party line. I cannot accept corruption, looting, a disregard for the people who brought us to power and the propping up of growing kleptocracy.

“My ANC suffocates reason, morality and ethical behaviour. My statements in the recent past simply mirror those which millions of South Africans have been saying, they have had enough.

“To side with the ANC of today requires me to disregard my moral fibre.

“I am no longer willing to be an apologist for an organisation and a leader that has lost its way.”

Khoza has said she will use her conscience when voting during the coming motion of no confidence in Zuma.