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By Baldwin Ndaba 
1 hour ago
Johannesburg – ANC members in Gauteng bite each other following a rape charge brought against a Joburg ANC councilor who is believed to be a strong supporter of Jacob Zuma and former leader of the ANC Youth League on the subway.
Sparks flew on Sunday when the ANC Youth League accused Joburg’s ANC of meddling in the criminal case.
The ANCYL in Alexandra issued a strong statement against the ANC members in Joburg for allegedly being behind the rape charge brought against their former leader, who in terms of the Sexual Offenses Act cannot be identified at this stage, until it is declared guilty.
The suspect is due to make his first appearance at Alexandra Magistrates Court on Sunday and will be indicted following charges brought against him by a Tembisa-based whistleblower, who is believed to be his girlfriend.
The alleged crime apparently occurred on Christmas Day when the two spent the night at the suspect’s home in Alexandra. The two separated on December 26, while the suspect went on vacation the same day.
The suspect is an executive member of the ANC branch of Zone 13 in Alexandra and was on vacation in KwaZulu-Natal when one of Joburg’s regional executive members allegedly called him and alerted him to the impending rape charge against him. even before the police made a formal arrest. .
ANCYL Zone 13 President Thabang “Sankara” Lediga was also angered by the press release issued by Greater Joburg ANC Secretary Dada Morero and ANC Zone 13 Secretary Banele Sangcozi, who urged the courts not to release the suspect on bail.
The ANC also promised to hold protest marches in court in support of the alleged victim.
But the aggrieved Youth League accused his party leaders of meddling in the case.
Lediga said that they could confirm after talking with the “accused” that he was ready and committed to participate in all processes to clear his name.
“As the ANC Greater Alexandra Youth League we must affirm that we are rapidly losing confidence in the process in the sense that the case has already been manipulated by senior ANC leaders, advancing their own divisions that are taking place in the ANC. in Greater Joburg.
“We have seen time and again the phenomenon of politicians using the judicial system to settle political scores and we fear that this case may be part of a long series of attacks on the character of the accused.
“Furthermore, we are concerned about the intention of certain ANC leaders to pressure the judicial processes to deny him bail and treat the case with partiality. This undue and unfair pressure will harm the rights of all those involved, to a fair process, “said Lediga.
His outrage came after Morero issued a statement saying his party was extremely upset and outraged upon learning of the rape accusation against his public relations counselor.
“The ANC refuses to be complicit in the dehumanization and abuse of women. We reject with absolute contempt the greater marginalization and violence that women suffer. The body of a woman is not a playground or a crime scene.
“The ANC supports the victim and calls on law enforcement agencies to ensure that the alleged misogynist faces the full power of the law as we believe in fairness … of our country’s justice system,” Morero said .
Morero said the ANC will decide on the alleged perpetrator’s status as a public relations adviser and branch leader as soon as the formal charges have been confirmed by the court of law.
The ANC calls on its members to disassociate themselves from any alleged perpetrator of gender-based violence against women and children in order to safeguard and promote their core values and no ANC member or leader should be found supporting alleged perpetrators when they appear in court. .
“No ANC clothing should be worn by anyone going to court to support the alleged perpetrator. Our thing is to support the victim until justice is done, ”Morero said.
Following his arrest and court appearance, Sangcozi called on the suspect to resign as ANC councilor in the city of Joburg.
These disputes came as the ANC’s national executive committee is expected to hold its first national executive meeting to discuss the fate of all its members facing criminal charges in the courts of law. One of the elements invoiced is the recommendation of the Integrity Committee of veteran George Mashamba to suspend the general secretary of the party, Ace Magashule, following the criminal charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering against him.
Political Bureau
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