DA rape accused ‘should get life’
THE ANC Women’s League in KwaZulu-Natal wants a DA councillor, released on bail after allegedly raping a 19-yearold woman, to be handed a life sentence.
The DA maintained yesterday that the councillor was innocent until proven guilty.
The 42-year-old councillor was released on R3 500 bail yesterday after spending the past two weeks in jail.
Provincial police spokesman, Captain Thulani Zwane, confirmed that a case of rape was being investigated and said the incident took place in southern KwaZulu-Natal, two weeks ago.
“It is alleged that a 19-yearold woman was offered a lift home.
“The suspect allegedly drove past her home and took her to a house in the area where she was allegedly raped,” he said.
Zwane said the man was arrested and charged with rape the next day.
“He appeared at a magistrate’s court on the same day, and the case was adjourned to yesterday.”
Zwane did not have further details on yesterday’s court appearance because the docket was still at court.
The matter will return to court on May 15.
Ntuseng Duma, the women’s league regional secretary, said the league was calling for a life sentence and accused the councillor of abusing his position by promising the victim a job.
“The victim told us she went to the hospital to fetch pills for her grandmother when the councillor offered her a lift home and she agreed because he was well known in the community,” she said.
“We want to ensure that he does not interfere with the victim while he is out on bail. She is a child and she must be protected.
“Even now, she has received calls from unknown people making threats,” Duma said.
She added that she felt the man should be sentenced to life imprisonment.
The DA’s provincial leader, Sizwe Mchunu, said the party took the allegations seriously and maintained that the councillor was innocent until proven guilty in court.
He said the party had questioned the councillor immediately after his arrest and he professed his innocence.
Mchunu said the party still remained committed to supporting abused women and children.
“We want the judiciary to deal with such cases and this case effectively,” he said. TEACHERS and pupils throughout KwaZulu-Natal may be called to join a protest against the state of education.
The SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) called on teachers and high school pupils to lend support to national protest marches in Cape Town and Pretoria today.
Responding to whether there would be protest marches in KZN, Sadtu provincial secretary, Mbuyiseni Mathonsi, said they were being “planned”.
Cosatu national spokesman Patrick Craven said there was no definite decision on whether there would be protests in KZN, but that teachers in all provinces should “stand together”.
Unions are calling for the resignation of Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and her director-general, Bobby Soobrayan, after a decision to increase payment for matric markers was withdrawn. Included in their grievances is the Limpopo textbook saga and education inequality.