Ward councillor in court for rape

A 57-year-old woman from Daveyton has opened a rape case against an Ekurhuleni metro ANC ward councillor.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Selvy Mohlala confirmed the case, adding the accused, who appeared in court on November 3, January 20 and February 27, is out on R2 000 bail.

According to a police report, the rape allegedly happened on March 20 last year, after the complainant and the accused attended a funeral of an ANC member in Mpumalanga.

While on their way to Mpumalanga on March 19, the accused’s vehicle allegedly broke down. Someone came to pick them up and they left the car at a petrol station.

The following day, after the funeral, they were dropped off at the filling station but because the car was still not fixed they booked into a guest house nearby.

The accused allegedly went to the woman’s room, asked for a charger and then raped her.

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said she was hospitalised with severe depression as a result of the ordeal.

“After what I’ve gone through, my life has never been the same. I want justice to take its course,” she said.

She claims the ANC failed to act against the councillor after she reported the matter to them.

“What surprised me is that he is still a councillor despite the pending case.

“The ANC is always saying that their priority is to tackle all forms of violence and abuse against women and children, but no one is taking my matter seriously,” she said.

The accused will again appear in court on April 3. The Benoni City Times requested comment from the Ekurhuleni metro but mayoral spokesperson Warren Gwilt said the speaker’s office and the political party must deal with the matter.

The City Times sent questions to the speaker’s office and the ANC Ekurhuleni chief whip three weeks ago and no response had been received at the time of publication.

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