Limpopo councilor on rape rap suspended

Benson Ntlemo

A Limpopo ward ANC councilor who has been arrested and charged with the rape of a 14 year old minor has been asked to step aside by his organisation.

The alleged sexual assault allegedly took place in the bushes of Rapempe village in the Greater Letaba region in the Mopani region.

The councilor appeared in court on October 5 and has been remanded in prison.

The ANC Norman Mashabane region has experienced disappointment with the alleged acts by its member.

In a statement issued by regional secretary Peter Matlou, the ANC said it condemned in “ strongest terms the barbaric acts allegedly perpetrated by a leader who was supposed to protect the 14  year old minor.”

“This happened when we are fighting the demon of gender based violence against women and children,” it said.

The organisation said it expected the councilor to be exemplary as a public representative.

“We regret as an organisation the alleged barbaric acts by the councilor,” said the statement.

After receiving the information from the branch executive council that the councilor has been arrested, the region sat to discuss the matter.

The organisation decided to suspend the councilor after finding that he has infringed  25.17.4 of the ANC constitution  as amended and adopted by the Nasrec conference  which states that engaging in any unethical and immoral conduct which distract  from the  character, values and integrity of the ANC, as may be determined by the Integrity Commission, which brings or could bring or has the potential to bring or as a consequence thereof brings the ANC into disrepute, and again on rule 25.17.5  which states engaging in sexual or physical abuse of women or children or abuse of office to obtain sex or any other undue advantage from members or others.

The branch executive committee has asked the councilor to step aside until he has been cleared by the court.