The African National Congress (ANC) in the North West province on Friday expressed “outrage” at a Mail & Guardian article, reporting child molestation allegations against provincial premier Popo Molefe.
Molefe’s recently divorced wife went public with accusations that her former husband sexually molested a pre-teen relative.
The weekly newspaper, the print edition of this website, reported on Friday that Molefe’s recently divorced wife, Boitumelo Plaatjie, accused her former husband of sexually molesting the pre-teen relative last year. The child was leaving with the Molefe family at the time of the alleged incident.
“He knows what he did to that child and he knows that the truth will come out,” Plaatjie reportedly said.
The newspaper also said the allegations had caused waves within the ANC and the North West political establishment.
The ANC said in a statement: “We have noted with outrage the publication of Plaatjie’s allegations.
“We support the principle of presumption of the individual’s innocence until proven guilty and do not wish to be drawn into the merits or demerits of the allegations.”
The ANC also “condemned in the strongest possible terms” that the allegations had caused a dispute within the party and the provincial leadership.
“We reject the implied attempt to draw the organisation into what is purely a private matter.”
It said Plaatjie’s handling of the matter was “deplorable” and undermined the integrity of the party in the province.
“Comrade Plaatjie knows the channels of raising matters within the ANC. The organisation rejects her attempts to mobilise sympathy and support using her personal matter to divide the party.”
The Mail & Guardian said a medical report revealed examination results were consistent with sexual abuse and it also recorded the child’s allegations that Molefe was responsible.
Molefe declined to comment and did not give reasons for his refusal.
“I am not surprised he did not want to comment,” Plaatjie reportedly said. ‒ Sapa
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