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The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Mpumalanga has said it will oppose the bail application of the former MEC who was on Monday arrested for allegedly raping one of his seven-year-old twin daughters.
The former MEC and his stepson were arrested for allegedly raping the children.
The pair appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday and the matter was postponed to 1 October for a formal bail application.
NPA spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said since crimes against women and children are prevalent in the area, the NPA takes them very seriously and will oppose bail.
Nyuswa said since the victims are minors, the former MEC and his stepson cannot be named.
The duo were arrested after one of the victims reported her alleged rape to her class teacher, and also reported that she had witnessed the same thing being done to her twin sister. The teacher then alerted authorities.
The twins were allegedly repeatedly raped.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi confirmed that the pair were arrested on Monday morning and are expected in court later the same day.
Hlathi said it is alleged that the former MEC raped one of his daughters while his stepson allegedly raped the other.
The former MEC is a senior member of the ANC in Mpumalanga.
The party’s provincial spokesperson, Sasekani Manzini said the ANC takes the allegations against the former MEC “very seriously” and that “as per” the party’s resolutions, he will be asked to step aside while these allegations hang over his head.
Manzini said internal party processes will unfold in due course.
The DA in the province has called for the law to take its course “without any political interference on the rape charges against” the former MEC.
The DA’s Jane Sithole said the party is calling for “a transparent and thorough investigation into” the former MEC.
“The DA wants the law to take its course without any political interference from the ANC,” Sithole said.
Sithole said this is not the first time the former MEC has been accused of rape.
“In 2012 he was charged with rape, but the case was dropped a few months later because of lack of evidence,” Sithole said.
Sithole said the DA welcomes the decision taken by the ANC to suspend the former MEC and ask him to step aside from all party activities pending the outcome of the case.
“The DA also calls on the ANC not to use its power to protect [the former MEC] from law enforcement agencies. They must let the law take its course, and if Kholwane is found guilty, he must be imprisoned like all offenders,” Sithole said, adding that if he is found guilty she should be handed down the harshest sentence.
“We know that all ANC members who are charged or accused with serious crimes always tell us that it is “politically motivated.” We won’t be surprised if [the former MEC] says the same about these charges of alleged rape against him.
“The DA will monitor this case very closely, and should there be any political interference, we won’t hesitate to take the matter further by going the route of private prosecution.”
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