The ANC in Johannesburg was left red-faced yesterday after party supporters in full regalia arrived at the Wynberg magistrate's court to support a councillor accused of rape instead of the victim.
Supporters of rape accused councillor Kenneth Mgaga,36, unashamedly defied party leaders by showing up at court wearing party T-shirts and singing Mgaga's praises after his release on R2,000 bail.
The crowd, mainly from Alexandra branch of the ANC, where Mgaga is a councillor, even declared Mgaga innocent after his release on bail yesterday.
Mgaga is charged with the rape of a 28-year-old woman on Boxing Day. He was not asked to plead. Mgaga was arrested on New Year's Day.
In strongly worded statements released by the ANC Zone 13, Greater Alexandra branch and the Greater Johannesburg region after news of Mgaga’s arrest came to light on Sunday, the party said it was "disgusted and outraged" by the alleged offence.
The party urged its members to come out in numbers in court to show their disgust and in support of the victim. But this was not the case yesterday, with Mgaga having the last laugh as he told the enthusiastic group of supporters that he was grateful for their support and that he hoped court proceedings would be more favourable on his next appearance.
ANC Greater Johannesburg regional spokeksperson Sasabona Manganye said those who were insensitive to the victim by illustrating their support for Mgaga in party colours would be subjected to disciplinary processes.
“We cannot allow people to show support to suspected criminals in party colours. They can support them in their personal capacity, but not in the name of the ANC. We warned them not to do so and they didn’t listen,” Manganye said.
He said despite the support that was seen for Mgaga, the ANC Women’s League was also present in court to support the victim. Manganye added that Mgaga was suspended in his role as a council member and that he would face the regional integrity commission within two weeks to make a determination on his fate.
During court proceedings, prosecutor Ayanda Bakana said the state was not opposed to Mgaga being granted bail as he did not have any previous convictions nor was he a flight risk.
Bakana read out the victim’s statement, which indicated that Mgaga allegedly raped the woman on December 26.
“On the 25th of December the victim paid the accused a visit but the incident happened in the early hours of the next day (December 26) when the accused took her to his place of residence before he took her to her place. On 27 December she went to see the doctor and the state is in possession of the J88 and there was no harm reported,” Bakana said.
He requested for the matter to be postponed for February 22 for purposes of trial administration.
Banele Sanqcozi, ANC‘s Zone 13 spokesperson said they had spoken to the victim’s family and that she was not in a good state.
“She is still traumatised and has been taken to a secret location, where we are also providing her with support,” he said.
