Ladysmith councillor charged with rape

Ward 25 Councillor Bongani Mazibuko has been charged by Ladysmith police with the rape of a 26-year-old woman.
The woman, believed to be a council employee, alleged that the councillor raped her during a two-year period.
Because of the nature of the charges, the woman cannot be named.

The alleged rape is being investigated by the Ladysmith FCS Unit.
It is alleged that between 2012 and 2014, the 26-year-old woman was an employee of a councillor in Colenso.

During this time, the councillor is alleged to have raped the woman.

The 43-year-old suspect, Cllr Bongani Mazibuko, was arrested and appeared briefly in the Colenso Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, April 2, where he was remanded into custody and the matter was postponed until today (Thursday, April 9).

Council expressed its shock at the arrest of the councillor. “At no time did the employee inform us there was an issue,” said municipal spokesperson Siya Maphalala. “We were caught by surprise.” He added that they would follow the case closely. “We would like to assure both our female and male colleagues that we will create better mechanisms for staff to report sexual abuse.”

The municipality also wanted to add that they believed justice and the course of law should be allowed to take its course without any interference from them.

Regarding the smooth running of Ward 25 in the councillor’s extended absence, they requested anyone with problems in the area to go through existing ward committee structures, who would refer important matters to the Speaker’s Office.

“We at no time were ever approached by either the employee or the councillor to indicate there was a problem.”
As the employee has left her job, council now has no ability to thoroughly investigate the issue.
They, however, reiterated that better coping mechanisms would be put in place to assist with regards to issues of this nature.

“We will also be attempting to interact with the councillor regarding his incarceration,” added municipal spokesperson Siya Maphalala.
“We as a municipality do not condone such actions and the law must take its course,” he added.

He confirmed that the woman had been employed as a personal assistant (PA) to the councillor, but again reiterated that when she left, they (as employers) were not informed that she had left their employ or why she had done so.

The councillor also did not inform them that she was no longer his PA and when she left.
When intially asked by the Ilanga newspaper for comment, the Mayor’s Office were unable to comment as they were unaware of the councillor’s arrest.