Tebogo Msimanga |
Sonke Gender Justice says it is outraged to learn that rape-accused ANC councillor Tebogo Sepale continues to earn a salary as a ward councillor in the Matlosana local municipality while imprisoned. Sepale faces 11 provisional charges, two for statutory rape, three for the violation of a child’s consent, one for manufacturing pornographic material, four for rape and one for sexual intimidation. The ANC says its hands are tied from removing him from its deployee’s list, as it can only be done once he is granted bail.
Co Executive Director of Sonke Gender Justice Bafana Khumalo said this lack of action by the ruling party demonstrates one more time that they do not take gender-based violence, femicide and sexual violence seriously.
“It is unbelievable that a party that professes to be committed to end sexual violence acts in this manner when one of their own is caught on the wrong side of the law. We all understand the principle of ‘no work no pay’ but by ANC standards this only applies to others and not their own”.
Khumalo asked why is a councillor sitting in prison being paid as he is not offering any service behind a cell. “One wonders how this expense will be justified in an audit”. Sepale remains in custody until his next court appearance on the 7th of July 2023
