The Inkatha Freedom Party has suspended national organiser and MP Albert Mncwango after he received a prison sentence on Monday for raping his former girlfriend in 2001.
”In keeping with the IFP’s commitment to uphold the rule-of-law, Mr Mncwango is suspended from all his positions in the IFP pending the outcome of his appeal,” said IFP chief whip Koos van der Merwe.
”Whilst the IFP has the greatest appreciation for the sterling work of Mr Mncwango and his unquestioned loyalty to the party, the IFP cannot at this stage be seen to condone the matter,” Van der Merwe said in a statement on Monday.
The African National Congress welcomed the 10-year jail sentence imposed by the Eshowe Magistrate’s Court.
”The sentence is a victory for women in general and also for the South African justice system,” said ANC provincial spokesperson Mtholephi Mthimkhulu in a statement.
”We hope this will send a clear message that the law will always take its course irrespective of an offender’s status — no one is above the law,” he said.
Mncwango will start serving his 10-year jail sentence on Monday.
According to evidence, Mncwango raped the woman at a flat in Ulundi in northern KwaZulu-Natal on September 17 2000.
There was a major outcry when Mncwango was sent to Parliament in May.
Despite being aware of his conviction, the IFP did not report the matter to Parliament and put Mncwango third on its election list.
Van der Merwe said at the time the party was convinced of Mncwango’s innocence.
He said the party’s lawyers have made it clear that the magistrate erred in convicting Mncwango and are convinced that the High Court will set the conviction aside. — Sapa