30 June 2023 – Sonke Gender Justice is outraged to learn that rape accused ANC councillor Tebogo Sepale continues to earn a salary as a ward councillor in the Matlosana local municipality while imprisoned. Sepale faces 11 provisional charges, two for statutory rape, three for the violation of a child’s consent, one for manufacturing pornographic material, four for rape and one for sexual intimidation. The ANC says its hands are tied from removing him from its deployee’s list, as it can only be done once he is granted bail.
“This lack of action by the ruling party demonstrates one more time that they do not take genderbased violence, femicide and sexual violence seriously. It is unbelievable that a party that professes to be committed to end sexual violence acts in this manner when one of their own is caught on the wrong side of the law. We all understand the principle of ‘no work no pay’ but by ANC standards this only applies to others and not their own. Why is a councillor sitting in prison being paid as he is not offering any service behind a cell. One wonders how this expense will be justified in an audit” says Bafana Khumalo, Co Executive Director of Sonke Gender Justice and Co-Chairperson of the Global MenEngage Alliance. Sepale remains in custody until his next court appearance on the 7th of July 2023.
For media enquiries contact:
Kgomotso Mophulane, Communications & Strategic Information Manager, Sonke Gender Justice on kgomotso@genderjustice.org.za or 0835196187.
Bafana Khumalo, Co-Executive Director, Sonke Gender Justice and Co-Chairperson, Global
MenEngage Alliance: bafana@genderjustice.org.za or 082 5784479.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Sonke is a South African-based non-profit organisation working throughout Africa. We believe women and men, girls and boys can work together to resist patriarchy, advocate for gender justice, and achieve gender transformation. For media releases, reports and news visit https://genderjustice.org.za/ and https://genderjustice.org.za/newsletter-signup/
