Relatives of the 21-year-old woman who has accused ANC chief whip Mbulelo Goniwe of sexual harassment are pressing her to drop the charges and return to Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape to face a traditional court.
If the court finds Goniwe guilty, said a family spokesperson, he will be fined five cows.
The Mail & Guardian understands from discussions with certain family members that the family has come under heavy pressure from local amakhosi and ANC traditionalists. The families of both Goniwe and the woman planned to meet on November 3 to discuss the sexual harassment claims in a “traditional” way.
However, the woman has resisted  with the support of the ANC parliamentary caucus chairperson, Vytjie Mentor. Edward Bezana, a human rights lawyer and family spokesperson, confirmed this week that she had not turned up at the scheduled meeting because she had decided to report the matter to the ANC’s parliamentary caucus.
Bezana explained: “If there are sexual harassment claims from a person who comes from our areas against someone who comes from the same area, both families meet to discuss the matter in the presence of elders and local chiefs.”
Asked what punishment Goniwe could face if found guilty, he said: “Our culture allows us to charge him five cows.”
Traditional culture also dictated that the public should not know the outcome of the court case because the claims were a “disgrace” to the tribe.
One family member described the woman as “strong”, while others have branded her “unruly” and “disrespectful”.
The M&G has learned that the woman planned to report the harassment claims to Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, leader of the Amabala clan in Pondoland, before she took the matter to the caucus. However, Nonkonyana did not turn up for their appointment.
It is understood that the family asked Nonkonyana, the woman’s “uncle”, to fetch her from Cape Town, where she works as a parliamentary staffer. However, Mentor blocked the move.
Nonkonyana confirmed this week that the woman’s mother had asked him to mediate in the matter. “My understanding was that both families were prepared to settle the matter amicably and that the woman was not going to pursue it further,” he said. “I was surprised when Mentor told me the matter was ‘out of their [the family’s] hands’.”
The family issued a statement last week accusing Parliament of sidelining them.
“We are … aggrieved by the way in which this matter is handled. It is unacceptable that a matter that involves our daughter is dealt with without our involvement as a family,” the statement said.
The family contends that the matter is “dividing” the people of Pondoland, as Goniwe is also their “son”.
The M&G has learned that Goniwe will meet the king of East Pondoland, Mpondombini Sigcau, on November 23 to give his side of the story. The woman’s family members will also attend.
On SABC radio on Wednesday Goniwe claimed there was a political conspiracy against him.
“I feel very much aggrieved,” he said. “This has taken a heavy toll inside me and the allegations are completely baseless. You can see people have been actively mobilised in a vilification campaign against me.”
Goniwe said the “conspiracy” was linked to the looming Eastern Cape congress, where he will contest the provincial secretary’s post.
Goniwe has asked the Amathole, Nelson Mandela, Cacadu and Alfred Nzo regions of the Eastern Cape ANC, which nominated him as secretary, to decide whether he should stand following the harassment claims. The four ANC regions will meet this weekend to decide his political fate.