In a twist on the sexual harassment allegations against ANC chief whip Mbulelo Goniwe, the family of the woman who laid the complaint is fighting shy of the proposed ”traditional solution”.
A parliamentary staff member accused Goniwe of sexual harassment last month, prompting an ANC disciplinary committee to investigate the matter while Goniwe takes an extended leave of absence.
Human rights lawyer Edward Bezana, who styled himself as the family spokesperson, told the Mail & Guardian two weeks ago that if a traditional court found Goniwe guilty, he would face a five-cow fine.
But the chairperson of the ANC women’s caucus in Parliament, Vytjie Mentor, said she had received a letter from the family rejecting the idea of a cattle fine. The letter apparently says that Bezana was speaking on behalf of Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, leader of the Amabala clan in Pondoland. The complainant first presented her case to Chief Nonkonyana, but when the matter was not acted on, took it to the ANC women’s caucus in Parliament.
The family reportedly says in the letter that they were not consulted about the fine and knew nothing about it.
Mentor said that the letter had been signed by several family members and the family’s lawyer.
Asked on Thursday why the family would deny knowledge of the fine, Bezana said family members had an ulterior motive in laying the complaint and wanted to ”trap” Goniwe.