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| ©Image: ZIPHOZONKE LUSHABA/SowetanLive |
The EFF in North West will on Monday dispatch its gender-based violence (GBV) desk to the victims of an ANC councillor who was arrested in connection with their statutory rapes at the weekend.
Statutory rape is defined as the crime of having sex with a minor, even if the sex is consensual and not coerced. This is because the law considers minors too young to consent to sexuality or sexual contact legally.
Under Section 15 of the Penal Code Amendment (Sex Offenses and Related Matters) Act 2007, a person who sexually abuses a child who is between the ages of 12 and under 16 years of age, despite the consent of the child, shall plead guilty to rape. Provided, however, that at the time such acts were allegedly committed, the perpetrator was first her age of 12 and under 16, unless it was within two years.
The most frightening part about rape in South Africa is that it has been made a norm. For instance, Police Minister Bheki Cele noted that a staggering 5,935 rape cases were recorded in South Africa between October and December 2022.
In releasing crime statistics for the third quarter of 2022/23, the Minister said that reported rape cases occurred at the residence of the perpetrator/victim, including those known to the victim/perpetrator. It was family, friends and neighbours.
During the same period, 4,992 suspects were arrested for gender-based violence and murder of women (GBVF) and related crimes. In these three months, sex crimes increased by a 9.6%—25.4% decrease in all sex offences.
Regarding the sexual assault allegations against the ANC councillor, the councillor from the Matlosana municipality remains anonymous until he has pleaded to the two counts of statutory rape with which he has been charged.
His alleged victims are two teenage boys from Kanana in North West.
The alleged rapes were reportedly exposed after a leaked video showing what is believed to be the 40-year-old councillor engaged in sexual acts with one of the children.
The ANC in North West is aware of the damning claims.
In a statement, the party said several women had come forward to lodge complaints against the councillor.
The EFF said it welcomed the councillor’s arrest. The suspect is expected to appear in court soon.
The councillor has been suspended by the party and prohibited from taking part in any ANC events until the outcome of the party’s internal disciplinary process.
Provincial secretary Louis Diremelo said the councillor’s alleged behaviour went against the party's values to build a cohesive society.
According to Diremelo, they will not stand idle when such tendencies rear their ugly face. They promised to act immediately and swiftly to root out such behaviour. As such, they sympathised with the victims of this act and called on those who had not come forward to do so.
