ANC Press Statement on the Nehawu remarks about Cde Ndamase

Issued by the office of the ANC EC Provincial Secretary.

The increasing anti Cde Phumelele Ndamase tendencies exhibited by a few members of the Nehawu legislature branch surprises the ANC in the province.

What surprises us is that these Nehawu members seem to have an undisclosed personal vendetta against Cde Ndamase, which jaundices their opinion on him as a person, their Cde and now as a Member of the provincial Legislature.

One of their allegations that he was involved in the so called sex for jobs frenzy alleged by Nehawu, was not sustained by the committee that was instituted by the Provincial legislature, as its their interim report.

Even in the submission made by the Nehawu representative to the committee, there was no specific allegation against Cde Ndamase on this particular issue, hence the committee didn’t not find him guilty of what Nehawu is now alleging against him.

According to the report, not a single of the people that were engaged by the committee appointed by the provincial legislature, came forward to expound on these allegations, making them factless and without basis.

We want to appeal to our Nehawu comrades to accept the outcome of the process they advocated and lobbied for even if its outcomes differ with the views they hold against Cde Ndamase.

Our Cdes in Nehawu should refrain from attempting to instruct the ANC who to deploy where, when and how because that posture is incorrect.

We will engage our Nehawu Cdes where we will raise issues about the conduct of some of their members, to help them resolve their personal vendetta against Cde Ndamase because we harbor no intentions to see the continuation of the current relationship between Nehawu and Cde Ndamase.

Our reading of the interim report of the Committee that was appointed by the Legislature raises a question that; why was the allegation of sex for jobs made by the workers against him if there was no one to attest to it and provide evidence to the committee in support of this allegation?

The ANC wants to put it on record that as it respects the rights of women, it frowns upon women abuse, abuse of power and authority by anyone including officials of all public institutions.

At the moment, there is nothing that proves beyond reasonable doubt that Cde Ndamase was involved in the so-called sex for jobs thing in the provincial legislature.

Had that information existed, it would have been presented to the committee that was appointed by the provincial legislature to investigate this matter, at the request of the workers.

Sexual harassment of any kind is a violation of the rights of the victim; it’s a criminal offence and has no place in our society. Any victim of sexual harassment must lay a charge against the perpetrators with the police for the matter to be processed through our justice system. As a matter of policy and principle, the ANC is against people giving jobs to others as a reward for sexual tryst.

Equally, making baseless allegations against people is dangerous as it damages their reputation, their names and paints them negatively in public. It must not be easy for anyone to make baseless allegations that have a potential to damage people’s reputations.

Making such allegations without proof and solid evidence is an attempt at dwarfing the seriousness of women abuse and sexual harassment.

We call on the leadership of the legislature from the Speaker, other Presiding Officers, the Chief Whip of the ANC to facilitate a process that will lead to a lasting solution and peace between Cde Ndamase and Nehawu branch in the legislature.

Ends…

NB: This statement must be attributed to the ANC Eastern Cape Provincial Secretary, Lubabalo Mabuyane.