MK Chief Whip Demands Immediate Security After Ad Hoc Committee Member Vusi Shongwe Is Kidnapped
The MK Party has raised urgent alarms over the safety of its representatives after the alleged kidnapping and extortion of Hon. Vusi Shongwe, an alternate member of the Ad Hoc Committee. The incident, which took place on 26 November 2025, has intensified pressure on Parliament to act.
According to a letter dated 27 November 2025, MK Chief Whip Colleen Makhubele informed National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza that Shongwe was kidnapped while traveling with another passenger. During the ordeal, the kidnappers confiscated all three of Shongwe’s phones, issued threats, and forced him to hand over a significant amount of money before releasing him. A case has been opened at Thembisa Police Station.
Makhubele reminded the Speaker that the MK Party has repeatedly warned Parliament about growing security threats targeting its members. She referenced previous concerns raised in the Chief Whips Forum and in a letter from the MK Party’s Acting Party Leader, saying the slow response from Parliament has now placed Ad Hoc Committee members in direct danger.
The MK Party is demanding a written response outlining the urgent protective measures Parliament will implement to safeguard committee members. Makhubele emphasized that concerns about budget constraints cannot be used as an excuse when lives and the credibility of Parliament are at stake.
The incident has sparked fresh debate about political safety, security protocols, and the vulnerability of public representatives during a period of heightened tension in South African politics.
