Accused rapist back on the PEC

The ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) has written to the Mpumalanga ANC to get answers as to why a former MEC charged with child rape was reinstated into the provincial executive committee (PEC).

The former MEC was released on R20 000 bail in September after allegedly raping his eightyear-old twin daughters. His stepson was a co-accused.

His bail conditions were, however, relaxed by the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court this week to allow him to get back to his duties.

But a day later, just before the country launched the annual 16 days of activism against women and child abuse, he was reinstated on the PEC.

The PEC decided to bring him back pending the national executive committee’s (NEC) resolution on the stepping aside of members who face criminal charges.

ANC Mpumalanga spokeswoman Sasekane Manzini said it would be unfair to single him out as several others also faced charges.

“There are many people that are awaiting trial nationally and the national officials are saying they are [engaging] legal counsel on the resolution of the NEC. That will be discussed in the upcoming NEC meeting.

“Because he is not the only one, we want to make sure this is implemented fully… We said, let us allow him also to participate until the NEC clarifies on how this will be implemented,” she said.

The ANCWL sought a clear understanding of his reinstatement.

“We want to understand what were the reasons behind this, while we believe in the principle of innocence until proven guilty on issues of gender-based violence [GBV]. We are very much resolute in our campaign for an end to all forms of violence against women, children and vulnerable groups.

“The position of the ANC reinstating the accused of rape into ANC structures is not removing us as the women’s league from our position of supporting the victim,” said ANCWL secretary-general Meokgo Matuba.

But bringing back the rape accused member did not mean the ANC did not support the victims, Manzini said.

“We will continue to support the victim. We are not saying we are going to treat him differently.”

The ANCWL said the party should lead by “theory and practice” and the national branch would be pursued on a final decision when it came to gender-based violence.

Meanwhile, the ANC called on all sectors of society to fight the scourge of gender-based violence and observe the 16 days of activism against it.

“The scale of the impact of GBV places upon us all a responsibility we cannot avoid,” ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe said in a statement.