At least two DA Ward Committee members from Wards 127 and 138 are claiming that an aspirant DA candidate, Faith Babuna was involved in meting out mob justice.
According to the members, a group of 20-odd people were campaigning in the Sol Plaatje area this past Saturday when the alleged incident took place. One of the men said they were being transported in a taxi when they saw a commotion in the street. Realising this would affect their campaigning negatively they instructed the driver to turn around, but Babuna allegedly asked the driver to stop in order to investigate. Bystanders told the passengers of the taxi the angry mob was assaulting a man accused of raping a woman. The eyewitness said that instead of trying to stop the crowd Babuna joined them. When other DA members tried to stop her she allegedly became aggressive.
Babuna denied the allegations.
Botshelo Moloisane, councillor for Wards 127 and 128, told the Record he had heard about the allegation but that no one has come forward with evidence yet. He warned that if the incident is investigated and the accusers lied, they would be dealt with since they are bringing the party into disrepute.
Gert Niemand, DA Campaign Manager for Roodepoort, said an investigation would have to be conducted. He added the DA condemns the practice of mob justice and believes in the rule of the law.
Anchen Dreyer, Roodepoort Constituency Leader and Member of Parliament could not be reached for comment.
Roodepoort Police spokesperson Nonhlanhla Khumalo confirmed that a case of rape that allegedly had been committed in Sol Plaatje, was opened on Saturday. The complainant claimed a taxi driver asked her to have sex with him but when she refused he raped her. She in turn told the community what had happened.
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