Non-government organisations (NGO) opposed to gender-based violence (GBV) are not pleased that rape-accused ANC councillor Tebogo Sepale still receives his full salary while in jail.
Sepale, who was suspended by the ANC in North West in May, is reportedly still on the payroll of the Matlosana local municipality.
On Friday Sonke Gender Justice, an NGO that advocates for gender justice, said it is outraged to learn that imprisoned Sepale continues to earn a salary as a ward councillor.
Bafana Khumalo, co-executive director at Sonke and co-chairperson of Global MenEngage Alliance, said a lack of action by the ANC demonstrates that the ruling party does not take GBV, 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,” Khumalo said.
“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.”
Sepale, who is also a pastor, is facing 11 provisional charges. Of these two are for statutory rape, three for violation of a child’s consent, one for manufacturing pornographic material, four for rape, and one for sexual intimidation.
This follows a social media commotion after a video of Sepale allegedly having sex with a young man went viral over a month ago.
Sepale is due back in the dock on July 7.
The ANC reportedly said its hands are tied from removing Sepale from its deployee’s list, as this can only be done once he has been released on bail.
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