THEBE MABANGA
THE ANC Caucus in the Gauteng Legislature has come out is support of Democratic Alliance MPL Nkele Molapo, who has brought a sexual harassment charge against fellow DA MPL and former Tshwane Mayor Solly Msimanga
“The ANC Caucus in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature commends the bravery of Ms Nkele Molapo Member of the Provincial Legislature in Gauteng for standing up for herself and for all women in Gauteng by laying sexual harassment charges against the disgraced, axed mayor of Tshwane and DA Gauteng provincial leader Mr Solly Msimanga,” the party said in a statement.
Msimanga resigned as the Mayor of Tshwane to focus on the DA’s Premiership candidate ahead of the 2019 elections.
He leads the party in the Gauteng Legislature and is set to contest the party’s Gauteng leadership following.
He denies the allegations, which he claims are alleged to have taken place seven years ago, and has expressed an intention to sue Molapo.
Molapo disputes this and says the incident is from six years ago.
The ANC questions the DA handling of the matter, with party leader Mike Moriarty releasing a statement that questioned the timing of the allegations as well as Molapo’s motives.
“The timing of reporting this incident raises questions about the veracity of the complaint,” said Moriarty,
“Furthermore, it should be noted that the complainant Ms Molapo is undergoing a serious disciplinary hearing,”
Molapo is facing expulsion from the DA after being found guilty of leaking information to Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema.
She is appealing the decision.
But the ANC is having none of this.
“We note with serious concern the attempt to discredit and vilify the complainant by further subjecting her to humiliation through casting aspersions on her integrity by the Democratic Alliance, their statement is not only shameful and deeply regrettable but it is a reflection of how women are treated in this country each time they expose those that violate them” the party says.
“The insensitivity displayed by Msimanga and the DA show disdain and scant regard for women and victims of gender-based violence.”
The ANC goes on to lament the scourge of gender based violence and demands of the DA to stand by victims of gender based violence.
After calling on law enforcement authorities to speedily investigate the matter.
The ANC further call the Integrity Commissioner to urgently investigate this matter.
It is unclear which integrity Commissioner the party is referring to.
The party also urged the Speaker of the Gauteng Legislature Ntombi Mekgwe “to heed to request by the victim by making sure that she is not subjected to discomfort having to be in close proximity to her alleged abuser during sittings of the Provincial Legislature”
ANC leaders who have faced charges of sexual harassment or misconduct include spokesperson Pule Mabe, who had to take leaves of absence while a sexual harassment complaint by a staffer was being investigated and Zizi Kodwa, who was cleared of sexual misconduct following a formal complaint to the Deputy Secretary Jesse Duarte.
(COMPILED BY INSIDE POLITICS STAFF)
