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An African National Congress (ANC) Councillor in Klerksdorp has been charged with two counts of statutory rape and one of crimen injuria. The ruling party member appeared at the Orkney Magistrate Court on Tuesday.
The accused was charged after a video of him engaging in sexual acts with a 15-year-old boy surfaced and circulated on social media. Two cases of statutory rape against the Matlosana Ward Councillor were registered with the Kanana Police Station near Orkney.
The crimen injuria charges stem from cases opened by female victims, who allege that the Councillor has been using his authority to make sexual advances at them.
One of the boys’ mothers expressed her rage. “I am heartbroken, I am heartbroken. If I see that man, I don’t know what I will do to him.”
“The Councillor has really hurt us. I wanted him to help me with a letter as I had just opened a GBV NPO. He said I must sleep with him to get the letter. Even when you don’t need any help from him, he tends to use his authority to make sexual advances to us,” added another victim.
Meanwhile, the African Independent National Congress marched to the Kanana Police Station to express their unhappiness about the police’s lack of action against gender-based violence.
The Party’s National Chairperson, Karabo Kau says, “Out of our deliberations with the South African Police Service, we reached an agreement that all victims who suffered the terror of the ANC Ward Councillor will receive case numbers in respect of their cases.” said Kau.
Police have reported that the possibility of more charges against the suspect cannot be ruled out at this stage. The ANC has since suspended the Councillor.
Meanwhile, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) has issued a statement that welcomes the arrest of two of their ward councillors. The statement outlined the shock and disgust after learning about two criminal sexual incidents allegedly committed by the two.
According to SALGA Spokesperson, Thotoane Shale, “These allegations are deeply concerning and go against the values of local government and the principles of good governance,” he stated.
Shale added that the actions of the councillors in question have sparked a national outcry that once more emphasises the need to eradicate pervasive and systemic sexual violence and abuse from “our communities,” she added.
The ANC in the North West has also issued a statement condemning the actions of these ward councillors. The statement contained information that the ruling party was outraged by allegations of rape and sexual abuse against its two councillors.
“The ANC condemns in the strongest possible terms the despicable and barbaric acts of sexual abuse and rape allegedly committed by two of its councillors in Matlosana, North West, and eMalahleni, Mpumalanga. The ANC will follow the two cases closely to come to a determination on how to ensure there are consequences for any proven wrongdoing that is deemed to be un-ANC in deed and spirit,” read the statement.
The EFF in the North West had also issued a statement that lambasted the actions by the Ward 25 Councillor in Matlosana Local Municipality, Tebogo Sepale. The statement further reads that in 2021, the said councillor was accused of murder and the case was treated was not taken seriously by law enforcement.
“The circulating videos and pictures are proof that he is a sexual predator, who turned vulnerable women and children into his prey. He is not ashamed to openly request sexual favours from vulnerable women as a prerequisite for service delivery and job opportunities,” the statement read further.
It further states that the growing number of GBV victims shows how “the ANC and its government is faced with serious credibility crisis and critical leadership chaos. “As the EFF, we will be filing a formal complaint with the Municipality to suspend him with immediate effect, law enforcement for the investigation of statutory rape, possible prosecution, and various other criminal conduct arising in the process".
