Chief whip effectively suspended from important position in the wake of sexual harassment allegations
The star Online
November 17, 2006 Edition 1
Wendy Jasson da Costa
Mbulelo Goniwe, the ANC chief whip, has effectively been stripped of his powers in a move tantamount to suspension, pending the outcome of his disciplinary hearing.
Goniwe, who is facing an ANC disciplinary inquiry for alleged sexual harassment, went on sick leave last week.
Yesterday, the party's national disciplinary committee (NDC) said there was a strong prima facie case which warranted a disciplinary hearing against Goniwe.
The action against Goniwe has been pushed by the ANC's women's caucus in parliament and backed by the party's Women's League, who "have had it" following the latest allegations of this nature against Goniwe, The Star was told.
The matter was also due for discussion in the ANC's last parliamentary caucus for the year, given that some male ANC MPs had taken offence to accusations that they had intimidated the complainant.
The heavyweights on the NDC include its chairperson, Kader Asmal, Limpopo MEC Collins Chabane, Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin, ANC MP Lluwellyn Landers, Deputy Safety and Security Minister Susan Shabangu and Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya.
Goniwe was not present at the meeting and Asmal told the media he had tried to contact Goniwe to inform him of the developments, but had been unsuccessful.
Goniwe has not been in the National Assembly since Tuesday, when he was called to a meeting with ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe in Johannesburg, partly to explain the sexual harassment allegation.
While the NDC met to discuss the matter against him yesterday, Goniwe told The Star he was at a soccer tournament in the Eastern Cape, where he was doing "social work".
However, Asmal said Goniwe had applied for sick leave last week and that he had been asked to extend it.
"In order to ensure that the hearing is conducted in a responsible and fair manner, the chief whip must remain on leave of absence until the completion of the hearing and must not perform his duties as chief whip," said Asmal.
He added that the case would be "expedited" because of the "special status" of the chief whip.
Asmal said the case would be prepared by Luthuli House, the ANC headquarters, and that the matter was likely to be finalised by January.
He said the case needed "urgent and immediate attention", although it usually took two to three weeks to get a meeting of the NDC under way.
He said Goniwe was entitled to be represented by a "person of good standing" within the party.
Since the start of the year the NDC has deliberated on nine cases, with four more on the cards for December, Asmal said.
He also issued a stern warning to ANC members, saying tough action would be taken against them if it was found that they were found to have intimidated the complainant.
Asmal said she was an intern employed by the ANC and that the chairperson of the ANC caucus, Vytjie Mentor, was "providing assistance" to the woman.
"There is evidence of attempts to influence and pressure the complainant. This is viewed in a serious light and any ANC member implicated in this is in breach of the obligations of a member," Asmal said.
Earlier this week, Mentor told The Star that the woman was under her "guardianship" after receiving up to 20 abusive phone calls warning her that she had placed her career and Goniwe's in jeopardy.
The case also threatens Goniwe's political ambitions of becoming the Eastern Cape's provincial secretary.
The province will have its election while the investigation against him gets under way.
Asmal said it was up to Goniwe, his conscience and the province to decide whether he should remain in the running for the position of provincial secretary.