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Police are investigating a rape complaint against a former senior ANC leader. According to reports, the politician initiated contact with the complainant in 2017 and was accused of sexually assaulting her until 2019.

He is said to have requested sexual favours in exchange for financial assistance. The complainant further alleges to have been sexually violated across different locations and forced to have an abortion after being impregnated by the politician.

According to police spokeswoman Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the police in Mondeor, Johannesburg, have begun a rape investigation.

She could not confirm the politician’s identity. No charges have been laid nor arrests made.

Mathe said the findings of an investigation would guide whether there was a case for the politician to answer.

The ANC has stated that it has a zero-tolerance policy towards gender-based violence and that it supports the victims of such crimes. However, some critics have questioned the sincerity and effectiveness of the ANC’s stance, especially when some of its leaders have been implicated in these scandals.

This is an ongoing story and more details should emerge unless this is also swept under the carpet like so many GBV cases.

[source:news24]