by Cllr Solomon Maila – DA Caucus Leader in Sekhukhune District Municipality
Date: 07 February 2019
Release: Immediate
Please click here for an English soundbite and here for a Sepedi soundbite by Cllr Solomon Maila.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Executive Mayor of the Sekhukhune District Municipality, Stanley Ramaila, to immediately suspend the Coordinator in the Municipal Public Account Committee (MPAC) after he was arrested for allegedly raping his 11 years old daughter at his home at Ga-Nkwana, Apel in September 2018.
The DA has discovered that the matter was swept under the carpet by the municipality but it was recently confirmed by the police upon inquiries by the DA.
It is alleged that the suspect was detained for more than three weeks and he was released on bail by the Schoonoord Magistrate’s Court in November 2018 under Case Number: A769/2018.
The daughter has reportedly sustained serious injuries and was treated at the Groblersdal hospital before the alleged sex pest could be arrested.
He is a former ANC Councillor in the Fetakgomo Local Municipality, which was subsequently merged with the Tubatse Local Municipality.
The DA believes that he should not be allowed to serve on the MPAC as it plays a very crucial role in ensuring that the financial mismanagement by any employee or department of the municipality is investigated and remedial action is taken against wrongdoers.
The DA condemns, in the strongest terms, any form of violence or abuse against women and children as we hold the view that the scourge of rape has reached epidemic proportions, not only in the Sekhukhune District but across the province of Limpopo.
It is clear that the lives of women and children are under siege and that gender-based violence has become the order of the day in our rural communities.
The DA urges Mayor Ramaila to immediately suspend him as we believe that all our female counterparts in the committee and the entire municipality are not safe at all.
Mayor Ramaila must further institute disciplinary action against him for bringing the District Municipality into disrepute.
The DA believes that taking disciplinary action against him would send a clear message that violence against women and children cannot be tolerated by the municipality.
We will also picket outside Schoonoord Magistrate’s Court during his next appearance as we remain committed to One South for All where women and children can walk the streets freely and without any fear of victimisation by sexual predators.
Media Enquiries
Cllr Solomon Maila
DA Caucus Leader in Sekhukhune District Municipality
076 081 5930