ANC calls on Tshwane mayor to be axed as ‘sex tape’ row hots up
“The mayor took advantage of the subordinate. He asked the lady whether she was nervous, which we think is a form of subtle abuse and taking advantage of a female colleague.”
Tshwane mayor caught in an alleged “sex scandal” must go, the ANC has called.
Dubbed #SexInTheCity, an alleged scandal broke out on Sunday, with claims that there was an audio recording depicting mayor Stevens Mokgalapa and transport MMC Sheila Senkubuge in a “compromising position”.
ANC Tshwane regional chairperson Dr Kgosi Maepa said his party on Monday, was “disappointed, shocked and dismayed at the behaviour of the mayor and MMC”.
Maepa told a press briefing at Tshwane House in the CBD that Mokgalapa had taken advantage of his subordinate.
“The mayor took advantage of the subordinate. He asked the lady whether she was nervous, which we think is a form of subtle abuse and taking advantage of a female colleague.”
Maepa said Mokgalapa had tried to spin and come out with “stories”, however, “he must just step down”.
“There is no extortion at all,” he said.
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Maepa said the DA also had to expel and remove him as a mayor.
“Advice to Helen Zille, DA and co: If you still care about the DA’s bruised and damaged reputation… you’re advised to remove Mr Stevens ‘Gimmicks’ Mokgalapa with immediate effect. He is a huge liability to the DA,” he said.
Maepa said the call to step down was because “he had taken advantage of a colleague in a manner of sexual purposes”.
“Having sexual activity in a public office is uncalled for. According to rules and orders and municipal structures and systems act, it’s something he must be punished for.”
Maepa said that Mokgalapa had “brought the city into disrepute with his sexual acts”.
He said his party had sought expert opinion on the authenticity of the audio recording and it had found that “there was no foul play to it”.
“The recording has never been tampered with,” Maepa said.
The ANC would also look to follow legal advice on what actions and punishment the Tshwane mayor should face, he told the media.
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Meanwhile, the DA has also launched an internal investigation into the “intimate engagement” between Tshwane mayor and an MMC.
Acting DA Gauteng communications manager Charity McCord said: “The DA takes note of the serious allegations made against the DA-led city of Tshwane executive mayor Stevens Mokgalapa and member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for transport councillor Sheila Senkubuge, claimed to be supported by an audio clip that is being widely distributed.”
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McCord said the DA’s political leadership would meet with the mayor while the DA’s federal legal commission had been tasked to conduct an internal investigation into the matter.
“Mokgalapa has since laid charges of extortion and invasion of privacy against some known and unknown individuals at the Brooklyn police station as well as with the Hawks.”
McCord said the DA was committed to providing “clean governance” and would act appropriately “when such serious allegations arise”.
“Accordingly, we will handle this matter with all due diligence.”
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