The party's Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) Coordinator, Hlomani Chauke, says the suspension of the councillor is with immediate effect, following his court appearance.

The councillor, who was granted R2000 bail during his appearance at the Klerskdorp Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, is also set to face ANC disciplinary proceedings for bringing the party into disrepute.

Chauke further says the ANC, as a leader of society, expects all its members, particularly its public representatives, to be at the forefront of the fight against the culture of rape, gender-based violence and patriarchy.

The councillor reportedly handed himself over to the police on Monday after the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the region opened a case of statutory rape against him on Thursday, 30 April.

"The ANC in North West has noted with shock the arrest of its ward councillor and his subsequent appearance in court yesterday on a charge of the statutory rape of a 15-year-old girl. These allegations against our public representative are abhorrent and antithetical to the values of the ANC," Chauke adds.

He further says his party urges women and children who are at the receiving end of abuse to report culprits to law enforcement agencies.

"We have the utmost confidence in the ability of our courts to dispense justice without fear, favour and prejudice," he further adds.

The ward councillor is expected to re-appear on August 18, 2020. Police spokesperson, Sabata Mokgwabone, said the 38-year-old - who is known to OFM News but cannot be named because the said victim is a minor - was allegedly in a romantic relationship with the teenage girl from April until August 2019 in Tigane near Hartbeesfontein.

Mokgwabone said the investigation into the matter continues.

OFM News