Former Tshwane MMC for housing and human settlements Abel Tau has vowed to fight to reclaim his party membership back, “even if it is for one day”.
Tau yesterday told Sowetan he was disappointed with the party’s decision to terminate his membership after a disciplinary committee found him guilty of bringing the party’s name into disrepute following allegations that he had tried to force himself on the wife of a party colleague.
He accused the party of “playing to the gallery” and attempting to be seen to be serious about being opposed to GBV “at my expense”.
Tau said the woman had initiated the encounter and “come on to me” and admitted that “I kissed her back”.
According to the findings, Tau acknowledged that he knew a scandal would be imminent after his revelation of the Randal Williams scandal within the Tshwane council, “and yet still elected to accompany his staff member’s wife to his bedroom”.
Tau took issue with the finding, saying as a long-term family friend, his accuser could enter any part of his home.
“I could not have known that the woman I have known for more than 18 years would come on to me and want to kiss me. There was no sex. Nothing happened.”
Tau said after a protracted exchange between him and the case prosecutor Thulile Nkomo (ActionSA member of the ethics and disciplinary committee) it was decided that he would face one charge, that of attempting to force himself on the woman.
He said he was not willing to accept being found guilty of bringing the party into disrepute because that was not what he was charged for.
Tau faced six charges, five of which related to various ways in which members or leaders in the party could be charged for behaving in a manner that would compromise its image.
The sixth related to the alleged sex attack. The panel did not make a finding on whether the attack happened.
“What actually occurred, in that bedroom on the fateful morning, has led to accusations which are impossible to resolve factually," it said.
“Be that as it may, the conduct of Tau, both in first allowing himself to be alone in the bedroom with his staff member’s wife, whilst he was a member of senate and as an MMC in Tshwane: housing and human settlements. He has further placed the party at risk of civil litigation, which is unbecoming of someone of his stature.
The tribunal found: “Tau’s conduct has led to endless media assaults on ActionSA in the realm of GBV and other issues. This has caused the party great harm, and given the media ammunition to further slate ActionSA in the public arena.”
Tau said the senate seems to have taken a decision that was not prescribed by the disciplinary hearing when it concluded: “Having further regard to the gravity and nature of the charges before us, both in isolation and collectively, and the evidence before us, we recommend that Tau be furnished with the following sanction:
‘A final written warning; Immediate removal from all leadership positions within ActionSA; immediate termination of his services as a councillor and MMC in the City of Tshwane; suspension for a period of 24 months from acting in any position of leadership for ActionSA,” read the tribunal’s report.
“The guilty verdict is a long stretch. It has nothing to do with what I was charged with. I will not allow myself to be made a sacrificial lamb of the newfound sweetheart relationship between ActionSA and the DA. I will definitely be appealing against this finding,” said Tau.
ActionSA chairperson Michael Beaumont yesterday told Sowetan that the findings against Tau did not necessarily relate to the criminal charges against Tau related to the alleged rape. The case is expected to be heard next March.
Although Tau faced a charge pertaining to one woman, the hearing heard evidence from other witnesses suggesting there was a pattern of behaviour in Tau’s engagements with women.
“The panel, chaired by Adv Gill Benson, heard evidence from a number of witnesses but determined that the charges relating to the alleged criminal conduct would be dealt with in the courts,” said Beaumont.
He said it was important that the party demonstrated to society that it was decisive and that it took gender-based violence seriously.
“The senate specifically looked at the conduct of Tau and concluded that this was inconsistent with ActionSA’s values of ethical leadership. Positions of authority and power in ActionSA are entrusted responsibilities to leaders that can never be abused for sexual advances or to subjugate women. This conduct has brought ActionSA into disrepute.”
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