THE ANC in Gauteng has confirmed that its Provincial Secretary Jacob Khawe has requested to be placed on leave and further asked to appear before the party’s Integrity Commission following claims he “physically, emotionally and financially” abused his estranged wife, Nthabeleng Khawe.
The party announced this after a special provincial executive committee held on Tuesday night to deal with the abuse claims.
The allegations of gender-based violence (GBV) levelled against Khawe were published by two Sunday newspapers on Sunday 24th April 2022.
Nthabeleng Khawe, who filed for divorce from Jacob Khawe, claimed that she was abused by her estranged husband, who used her as a punching bag.
She also claimed that she was allegedly assaulted four times at their marital home in Featherbrooke Estate, in Johannesburg.
The PEC said although Nthabeleng Khawe had not opened a police case against the Provincial Secretary, the allegations were too serious to ignore.
In a statement, Deputy Provincial Secretary Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said the PEC welcomed the fact that Khawe was willing to cooperate with the ANC’s organizational processes in the wake of the damning abuse claims.
“The allegations of GBV against the Provincial Secretary are viewed in a very serious light. They impact on the standing of the ANC in society and steps must be taken to protect the integrity of the organization,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.
“The PEC noted that no case has been opened nor have any charges been laid against the Provincial Secretary. Accordingly, the step-aside principle does not apply. However, the PEC is of the view that the veracity and seriousness of these allegations warrants that they must be subjected to the internal organizational process of the ANC in order to establish the truth.”
The PEC said in accordance with the ANC Constitution, the Deputy Provincial Secretary will be the Acting Provincial Secretary ‘during this period in order to ensure that there is a seamless continuity of the work of coordination and communication as we prepare for Regional Conferences that will take place in May and the Provincial Conference that will take in June.”
“The ANC will, through its Acting Secretary, also maintain communication with the complainant to explain the organizational processes and decisions on this matter so that she can consider whether to participate in the process of the National Integrity Commission,” the PEC said in a statement.
“It is our belief that her participation in the integrity commission process will ensure that she tells her side of the story directly. The ANC integrity commission process is not meant to interfere with whatever legal processes and rights that any citizen is entitled to.”
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