Speaker on assault charge

The speaker of the Joe Gqabi District Municipality in the Eastern Cape, Themba Notyeke, is facing criminal charges and an investigation by the Commission on Gender Equality (CGE) after he allegedly pushed a female fellow ANC member in an altercation during a council meeting.

The unnamed woman has also since laid criminal charges against Notyeke after a video showing Notyeke pushing her started doing the rounds on social media.

The video also showed the unnamed woman first kicking someone else before she was pushed away by Notyeke. She apparently falls onto a table.

The altercation happened among ANC members who disagreed over a party regional list in Aliwal North over a fortnight ago.

The municipality is formerly the Ukhahlamba District Municipality and comprises the Elundini, Senqu and Walter Sisulu local municipalities in the northern part of the Eastern Cape.

The Democratic Alliance Women’s Network’s (Dawn) federal leader, Nomafrench Mbombo, vowed the network would take up the matter.

“This treatment is blatant and sexist abuse by a person known to be arrogant and dismissive during council meetings. It is untenable that a person in his position gets away with treating a woman this way,” Mbombo said.

She said Dawn reported the matter to the CGE for recommendations on appropriate further steps against Notyeke. The women’s network was also considering laying criminal charges against him.

“South Africa needs the kind of change that will protect women and children, and [in which] those found guilty of abusing women and children are held accountable,” Mbombo said.

The DA caucus leader at the municipality, Marina van Zyl, submitted a motion in the council in Barkley East proposing the alleged attack by Notyeke to be referred to the council’s rules and ethics committee.

In the motion, Van Zyl called for the council to remove Notyeke from his position.

“If the Speaker is found guilty, he should be removed as he would no longer be fit to lead the council.

“We are heading into Women’s Month in August and the DA condemns any violence, especially towards women and children. Such behaviour by a public representative should not be ignored and left unpunished,” Van Zyl said.

Van Zyl confirmed to The Citizen that the motion has been accepted by the council without resistance and that the municipal manager told her it would be reported in the next council meeting.

Neither Notyeke nor the municipal spokesperson were available for comment yesterday when approached.