ANC+chief+whip+innuendoed,+Mpumelelo+Mkhabela,+City+Press

City Press, Johannesburg, 11/11/2006 19:15 - (SA)
=ANC boss in sex scandal=


 * MPUMELELO MKHABELA**

ANC chief whip Mbulelo Goniwe’s career is hanging by a thread following calls by angry women MPs who want him dismissed over allegations that he sexually harassed an ANC staff member.

The ANC parliamentary women’s caucus group is investigating Goniwe’s conduct.

The complaint relates to an alleged incident on October 25, at Goniwe’s birthday party at Block E of the parliamentary village of Acacia Park, near Cape Town.

Goniwe yesterday denied the allegations levelled against him but confirmed that a birthday party had taken place on that date.

Sources said Goniwe, who had allegedly been drinking alcohol, apparently instructed one of his aides to arrange that the complainant be picked up from her flat in Cape Town because “there was work to be done”. It was well after midnight when he sent for her.

On her arrival, she was apparently asked to clear some of the after-party garbage. On completion of this task, Goniwe’s aides gave her the keys to his house and asked her to give it to Goniwe because they were leaving.

When she went to hand over the keys, Goniwe was lying half- naked in his bedroom. He asked the woman to come closer “to help” him [sleep with her].

She escaped from the room.

She then called a cab to take her back to her place. The woman, who is believed to have been shaken by the incident, is still in possession of the keys to Goniwe’s house.”

She reported the incident to her family in the Eastern Cape.

Her complaint has caused a split among members of the ANC women’s caucus and those of the main caucus of the party. Members of the women’s caucus confirmed that a complaint had been lodged, while a spokesperson for the main caucus, Moloto Mothapo, said they were not aware of any complaint and were unable to respond to “pure rumour”.

The decision to probe Goniwe was taken at an emotionally-charged meeting of the women’s caucus on Thursday, after a complaint of sexual harassment was lodged against him on Tuesday.

Goniwe did not pitch for work on Wednesday this week. He told his staff, who inquired about his absence, that he was on leave in Cradock, Eastern Cape.

Those close to him say he was “surprised” by the allegations but he could not respond as these have not been formally put to him.

Goniwe yesterday said he had “not been informed” about the allegations and had been surprised to hear about them from journalists.

“I want to state, however, that I always encourage my staff, generally, to raise issues and complaints if they feel that something is wrong. I encourage that such complaints should be investigated. But what is wrong is for people to conclude (that a wrong had been done) before a proper investigation has taken place,” he said.

In an earlier interview on Friday, Goniwe had told City Press that he would resign as chief whip to stand for the position of ANC secretary in the Eastern Cape.

Vytjie Mentor, who chairs both the main caucus and the women’s caucus, confirmed that a complaint was lodged, but refused to give details.

However, she said she would convene a meeting tomorrow consisting of national executive committee members of the ANC Women’s League, to make recommendations to the ANC leadership on Goniwe’s conduct.

Mentor said she had also been mandated by the women’s caucus to counsel the complainant and seek professional psychological help for her, as she appeared “shaken”.

The ANC women’s caucus also wants the administrative head of the ANC caucus, Mathew Oliphant, to be dismissed for allegedly facilitating that the complainant be picked up and for apparently wanting to suppress the processing of the complaint.

He denied both charges and said he was neither aware of Goniwe’s party nor any complaint lodged with any of the ANC offices.

As chief whip, Goniwe is the most powerful ANC politician in Parliament. His role is not only to ensure that MPs behave properly but also whip them into party line.

He was recently been embroiled in controversies, including the Travelgate scandal for which he is repaying R70 000 to parliament after he hired cars without authorisation.

He was also reported to have been in the list of the sheriff of the court for failure to pay maintenance for two children he fathered.

Some of his properties in Cradock were recently advertised for auction by the Eastern Cape Development Corporation for failing to repay a loan running into thousands of rands.


 * From: http://www.news24.com/City_Press/News/0,,186-187_2028950,00.html**

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