A secretary who worked in the Western Cape provincial government on Monday contacted the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Cape Town, allegedly about claims of sexual misconduct against former premier Peter Marais.
DPP director Frank Kahn said through his representative Dawn Greyvenstein that the woman had been interviewed on Monday after submitting a complaint.
Greyvenstein said the matter had been submitted to the police for criminal investigation.
Provincial police representative Captain Etienne Terblanche emphasised late on Monday that he was still not aware of any charges being laid against Marais.
”Even if we do know (of criminal charges) police-client confidentiality is a priority. It’s not ethical for the police to confirm whether any charges have been laid,” Terblanche said.
Informed that the DPP’s office had confirmed a woman had lodged a complaint and that it had been submitted to the police, Terblanche declined to add anything further.
Earlier on Monday the woman’s lawyer Gerhard van Niekerk would only confirm that his client had contacted the DPP. The woman had approached the DPP, rather than the police, due to the sensitivity of the case.
The latest claims against Marais follow allegations of sexual harassment, including lawsuits for damages of R1,5-million and R1-million brought by former New National Party (NNP) MECs Audrey van Zyl and Freda Adams.
Marais resigned as premier on Friday after the NNP caught wind of the latest allegations against him and that a woman planned to lay criminal charges.
Western Cape health MEC Piet Meyer was on Monday sworn in as acting premier of the Western Cape.
This was followed by a special provincial cabinet meeting during which Marais officially resigned as premier of the province. – Sapa