Rape accused ANC man urged to ‘step down’
Various branches of the ANC have called for Mashamaite to step down until the court case is adjourned
The 40-year-old ANC Waterberg Regional Secretary, Tolly Mashamaite, was arrested on charges of rape recently and was granted R1 000 bail. He is set to appear before the Mokopane Regional Court on 7 November when he will plead his case.
It is understood that ANC Secretary General (SG) Gwede Mantashe has written a letter to the ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) to urge Mashamaite to step down until his name is cleared.
Last week Thursday, the ANC Provincial Secretary, Nocks Seabi, released a statement which in part reads: “ANC in Limpopo notes the arrests of Waterberg Regional Secretary, Cde Tolly Mashamaite on allegations of rape. ANC in Limpopo remains resolute in the fight against any form of woman abuse including sexual abuse and rape. The ANC once more confirms its confidence in the judicial system and encourage speedy resolution on the matter in the interest of justice. While the ANC holds the principle of innocent until proven otherwise, The PEC will receive a report from the Regional Executive Committee (REC) on the way forward in line with the ANC conference resolution”.
The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) Waterberg Regional Secretary, Dan Madibana, said in a statement that: “The ANCYL Waterberg Region is shocked by the manner in which ANC PEC in Limpopo, particularly the officials, are handling the issue.
“The delay is sending wrong signals to both ANC members and society at large that we cannot respect our own constitution. Our provincial leadership did not have to wait for a letter from the office of SG to remind them about the constitutional obligation of requesting the regional secretary to step aside until his name has been cleared,” he said.
Regional Secretary of the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) in Waterberg, Dipuo Moatshe, said: “We are appalled by the situation we find ourselves in. As ANCWL, we are against any form of abuse against women and children, we feel unsafe in our region. It is for this reason that we advise our comrade to step aside and allow the law to take its course”.
During Mashamaite’s court appearance, a group of ANC supporters gathered outside the court with posters in support of the accused.
One of the posters read: ‘He is not a rapist, but a leader’.
Jabu Mashamaite, Chairperson of the South African Municipal Workers Union and Mashamiate family representative said the arrest is a political ploy. He said he cannot comment on the rape accusations because the matter is still sub justice but promised to fight tooth and nail.
Read more:
Waterberg ANC official gets bail: ‘He is not a rapist but a leader
