African National Congress (ANC) chief whip Mbulelo Goniwe has been placed on an extended ”leave of absence” pending a party disciplinary inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment made against him.
”There is strong prima facie evidence that warrants a disciplinary hearing,” the chair of the ANC’s national disciplinary committee, Kader Asmal, told a media briefing at Parliament on Thursday after meeting to examine the allegations.
Earlier this week the ANC received a formal complaint of sexual harassment against Goniwe — in the form of a statement — from a 21-year-old female parliamentary administrative assistant.
Asmal told journalists Goniwe would ”remain on leave of absence” until the end of the disciplinary hearing, to be convened by the ANC.
Responsibility for the hearing was ”in the hands of Luthuli House [ANC headquarters in Johannesburg]”. Responding to questions on how long the procedure could take, he said: ”I hope by Christmas, that is December 21,” then amended this to ”definitely by January”.
”There was a statement submitted to us and the statement was very cogent … effectively establishing a strong case … We decided there was a prosecutable case here … and it should go to the proper disciplinary proceedings.
”Here we felt there was strong case, a prima facie case, to recommend a proper hearing,” Asmal said.
The decision was reached on the basis of the statement and ”the status of the person against whom that allegation is made”.
Goniwe’s position was ”a factor you must take into account before coming to a decision”, he said.
It was up to Luthuli House to prepare the disciplinary case.
In terms of the rule governing disciplinary procedures, Goniwe was entitled to be represented at the hearing by another ANC member of ”good standing”, should he so choose.
On the nature of the alleged harassment, Asmal said a copy of the complaint statement examined by the national disciplinary committee showed there had been no ”physical contact” of any kind.
”There are degrees of harassment as you know; they go from harassment to more overt sexual abuse. So from documents we have there was no physical contact of any kind.”
Responding to questions on Goniwe’s leave of absence, Asmal said ”he has sought leave of absence himself and we are saying this should continue”.
Later in the briefing he revealed Goniwe had ”requested sick leave during the course of last week”.
On who would act as the party’s chief whip during Goniwe’s absence, Asmal said that was up to the ANC to decide. — Sapa