The African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) on Monday called for the immediate suspension of the ANC’s chief whip in the National Assembly, Mbulelo Goniwe, pending an investigation of sexual-harassment allegations.
The league’s national working committee has received a comprehensive report from the ANC Women’s Caucus in Parliament regarding the recent sexual-harassment allegations made against Goniwe, it said in a statement.
The league views these allegations as very serious, taking into account the road South Africa has traversed in entrenching women’s rights. Acts of sexual harassment in general undermine these achievements and the role of women in society.
”We therefore condemn in the strongest possible terms any act of sexual harassment and any abuse of office for sexual or any benefit.
”We call for the immediate suspension of the ANC chief whip in the National Assembly pending investigations. We will continue to respect his right of presumed innocent unless proven otherwise by the due process.
”We also view allegations of threats against the victim in a very serious light; we call for the protection and support of the victim for being brave in bringing forward these allegations,” the ANCWL said.
Weekend media reports said Goniwe has been accused of sexually harassing a 21-year-old administration assistant. He allegedly asked the woman to have sex with him after she had helped serve dinner to guests at his home on October 25.
The woman told the Sunday Times that she reported the incident to a senior party official and had since received threatening phone calls demanding she drop her complaint. — Sapa