Mabe suspension lifted after abuse claims quashed

ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe’s suspension has been lifted after the party yesterday cleared him of allegations of sexually harassing his personal assistant.

The party issued a statement yesterday announcing that a grievance panel made up of the party’s national executive committee (NEC) members S’dumo Dlamini, Thoko Didiza and two representatives could not find evidence of sexual harassment against Mabe.

“The case has been concluded and Pule Mabe is the spokesperson,” said acting spokesperson Dakota Legoete.

However, Mabe did not answer his cellphone as he was in an NEC meeting.

The panel was appointed in December after Mabe’s 26-year-old personal assistant had lodged a complaint with party secretarygeneral Jessie Duarte.

The woman claimed that the harassment took place when she and Mabe were working away from Luthuli House. She said when she objected to the harassment, her salary was reduced.

In a statement, the ANC said the panel had heard evidence from Mabe, his alleged victim, who was not named, and witnesses.

The panel had also recommended that the party, within three months, adopt a sexual harassment policy, “and do training for all its management and staff in offices throughout the country on this policy”.

It also called for the party to address the human resource concerns that were raised during the hearing.

It said the complainant should be reintegrated as an employee of the ANC.

“The privacy of staff and manager’s bedrooms at meetings must be respected, and where meetings are to be held or there is work to be done, arrangements should be made for such to take place in meeting rooms or public spaces,” read the ANC statement.

“As part of building national consciousness against gender violence it is important to train people on sexual harassment,” said Legoete.