ANC STATEMENT ON DEATH THREATS AGAINST MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

The African National Congress condemns the death threats against Comrade Ben Turok and as well as the Committee Registrar Fazela Mahomed both of whom represented the Ethics Committee of the South African parliament in an investigation against the former Minister of the Department of Communication and a member of parliament who has since been found guilty of allegations levelled against her. We view these threats in serious light as they are clearly calculated to undermine the authority of the parliament and its functional organs and to paralyses a parliamentary sanctioned process.

We call on the police and other law enforcement agencies to investigate this matter and bring to book those who are behind this despicable intention against one of our senior parliamentarians and a veteran of our struggle. This disregard for lawful processes and malicious interference with parliamentary process must not be tolerated so that parliament and parliamentarians can discharge their work and responsibilities without fear or favour. We want to take this opprtunity to commend parliament and the Ethics Committee for having acted decisively to restore the integrity of our parliament.

Should any of those behind the threats be found to be ANC members, the organisation will not hesitate to take stern action against them as we regard such conduct to be unANC.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, ANC national spokesperson, August 8 2013

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