CAPE TOWN, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Police Minister Fikile Mbalula on Thursday assured South Africans that death threats resulting from political disagreements will be treated "very seriously".
"I assure South Africans that no matter your race, creed, religion or social strata, where there exists a real threat to life, SAPS (South African Police Service) will treat the matter very seriously," Fikile Mbalula said.
He was responding to alleged death threats against Makhosi Khoza, an MP of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Khoza, Chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, claimed that she had repeatedly received death threats after she openly said she would defy an order from the ANC to vote with the opposition in a no-confidence motion against President Jacob Zuma through secret ballot.
The vote on the motion is scheduled for August 8. Parliament Speaker Baleka Mbete has yet to decide whether the vote will be carried in secrecy.
Given the fact that the scourge of politically motivated assassinations and violence do exist in South Africa, threats against Khoza "are therefore serious", Mbalula said.
The minister pledged that police will provide close protection to Khoza.
"No political disagreements enter the space of SAPS operations," Mbalula said, adding that Khoza likewise is being treated that way, with an added burden on the police mandate to protect the institutions of democracy and free political will.
"This democracy could evaporate in seconds if elected political leaders are constantly harassed, threatened or killed.
"Our mandate in this regard is therefore to be seen in two; that is the protection of all persons and the protection of our democracy itself," Mbalula said.
Political disagreements must never lead to harm and loss of life or injury, he stressed.
Referring to Khoza's open support for the motion of no confidence against Zuma through secret ballot, Mbalula said any ANC member who openly decides to defy party instructions or constitution or rules, such a person destroys his or her party career.
The ANC has warned that any ANC MPs who vote with the opposition in support of the anti-Zuma motion will be disciplined.
