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A member of the ANC PEC was released on bail.
- The district attorney says he hopes the politician, if convicted, will receive heavy punishment for sending a strong message.
- The PEC member appeared in Nelspruit Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
- According to the NPA, the matter will return to court on November 20 for a decision by the Director of the Public Ministry.
A member of the Mpumalanga ANC provincial executive council accused of allegedly raping his eight-year-old twin daughters, received a bail of 20,000 rand, according to the National Tax Authority (NPA).
The man appeared in Nelspruit Magistrates Court with his 26-year-old stepson, who was also granted bail of 20,000 rand.
According to NPA spokeswoman Monica Nyuswa, the matter was postponed until November 20 for the Director of the Public Ministry to make a decision on the matter.
The politician and his stepson were arrested on September 28.
Nyuswa previously said that the former MEC was accused of raping the girls on more than one occasion.
The ANC in Mpumalanga had distanced itself from the people wearing insignia, supporting the PEC member during his court appearance on October 1.
The ANC had suspended the politician.
News24 reported that the interim ANC president Mandla Ndlovu said that ANC officials in the province had met and decided that the defendant would resign from his position in the ANC, given the seriousness of the charges.
Denied
The Mpumalanga prosecutor said he was disappointed by the “small amount” of bail granted to the defendants.
In a statement, MPL Jane Sithole said they expected the defendant to be denied bail.
“Although we are disappointed with the bail that was given to the politician, the prosecutor still calls for a transparent and thorough investigation into the matter and that witnesses should not be intimidated,” Sitole said.
“The district attorney will monitor this case very closely, and if there is any political interference, we will not hesitate to take the matter further and go the private prosecution route.”
