Official caught on video assaulting woman, victim speaks out
“While the victim indicates on social media that she has lodged a formal complaint with the SAPS, a decision the municipality applauds, the municipality will, as the employer, get to the bottom of this matter, with a view of taking appropriate action
SEKHUKHUNE – The calls for men to cease gender-based violence (GBV) seem to be falling on deaf ears. A senior official at the Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) has been captured on video assaulting a female. “The SDM has learned with disgust about a video on social media, in which a female is being harassed, insulted and seemingly assaulted, by a male employee of the municipality.
“Even though the incident happened outside the workplace, and that the victim is not a municipal employee, the district municipality still does not take kindly to it,” said municipal spokesperson, Moloko Moloto.
“First, we confirmed that the male captured in the video is indeed a senior official who had recently acted as chief financial officer of the district municipality. “Second, the district municipality is disgusted and disappointed that one of its officials perpetuates GBV, a social ill that has become an intolerably painful affliction in our country,” added Moloto. Previously, the municipality had held campaigns against GBV, and the executive mayor, Cllr Keamotseng Stanley Ramaila, has repeatedly encouraged victims of GBV to speak out.
“While the victim indicates on social media that she has lodged a formal complaint with the SAPS, a decision the municipality applauds, the municipality will, as the employer, get to the bottom of this matter, with a view of taking appropriate action.
“Therefore, the municipality commends the victim for speaking out,” said Moloto. The SDM urged the complainant to get in touch to assist with the internal investigation. Last year, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the scourge of GBV a second pandemic against which all South Africans must fight.
