DA to report Tshwane councillor for sexual assault

24 November 2016

The DA will report ANC councillor Joel Masilela to the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) for allegedly sexually assaulting a pregnant DA Councillor, Jacqui Uys, during today’s council sitting.

The alleged incident took place a mere minutes before councillors were scheduled to participate in a debate on 16 Days of Activism against violence against women and children.

Cllr Uys reported the assault to DA Whip Ernst Botha, who raised the matter with the Speaker and requested Cllr Masilela’s removal from the chamber.

True to form, the ANC caucus went to great lengths to defend Cllr Masilela’s actions and to prevent his removal.

Cllr Masilela’s past shows his disregard for the rights of women, and has been accused of assaulting two female councillors and sexually assaulting another before today’s incident.

There is no place for such actions, and as an elected public representative, Cllr Masilela should be an example of exemplary behaviour.

To this end, the DA will also write to Council Speaker Kathlego Mathebe to establish an ad-hoc committee in terms of the Code of Conduct for councillors as set down by the Municipal Systems Act to investigate Cllr Masilela’s actions, and to make a finding.

The Bill of Rights recognises the rights of women and children, and the DA will follow every avenue to our disposal to ensure they are upheld.

Issued by Christo van den Heever, DA Chief Whip of Council in the City of Tshwane, 24 November 2016