Former ANC MP to appear in court for rape of daughters

A member of the African National Congress’ (ANC) Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) in Mpumalanga is expected to appear before the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 1 October 2020, over the alleged rape of his eight-year-old twin daughters.

The suspect is expected to apply for bail.

The man, whose identity is known to media outlets, has served as a Chairperson of the Communications portfolio committee in the fourth Parliament after the 2009 elections.

His identity has been withheld to protect the children involved.

Daughter had told a teacher about the abuse

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the Mpumalanga said it would be opposing bail for the 48-year-old.

Spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said one of the girls had told a teacher about the alleged incidents.

“She indicated that the same thing was also happening to her sister,” Nyuswa said.

“The teacher then alerted the police and the cases were opened. The children cannot tell how many times they were violated because they are young, but the two have been charged with multiple counts of rape,” she added.

ANC in Mpumalanga: ‘We stand with the victims’

The ANC in the province has reacted to the case and moved to suspend his membership, pending the matter being heard.

“The ANC in Mpumalanga province has learned with serious shock and anger of the allegations of rape levelled against a PEC member of the ANC in the province,” said ANC acting provincial secretary, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali.

Ntshalintshali added that they take the allegations very seriously.

“The ANC takes these allegations against him extremely serious as the president has characterised gender-based violence, which includes rape, as a pandemic which we should all be struggling to defeat at all cost,” she said.

“The ANC stands with the victims and complainants in this case and assures them that it will do all in its might for justice to be served. We also wish to let them know that the ANC-led government has established different institutions to support victims of rape and all types of gender-based violence and they should feel free to approach those institutions.”

The man had also served as an MEC in the province, is reported to have been handcuffed together with his 26-year-old stepson.