UPDATE | ANC axes former MEC accused of raping daughters
The man was arrested and appeared in court alongside his stepson on Monday
The ANC on Monday confirmed that a former Mpumalanga MEC had been arrested after allegations of rape.
In a statement, acting provincial secretary of the ANC Lindiwe Ntshalintshali said the man was arrested at his home.
TimesLIVE is not naming the official in a bid to protect the identity of his daughters who are alleged to be victims in the case.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Mpumalanga on Monday confirmed that a former MEC had appeared before the Nelspruit magistrate's court alongside his 26-year-old stepson on charges of rape.
“[The former MEC] was arrested earlier today and appeared in court together with [an adult male],” said NPA spokesperson Monica Nyuswa.
“The victims are two girls,” Nyuswa added.
The case was postponed to October 1 for a formal bail application. In the meantime, both remain behind bars.
Ntshalintshali said the member had since been suspended from the party.
“[He] has been summarily suspended as a member of the ANC ... until the case is concluded by the competent court, consistent with the resolutions of the most recent national executive committee meeting of the ANC and the 54th national conference, which resolved that all members charged for corruption and other serious crimes should step aside from all activities associated with the ANC,” she said in a statement.
The party said it viewed the allegations seriously and threw its weight behind the victims.
Police could not immediately be reached for further details.
It was not the first time the suspect had been implicated in rape allegations.
He was previously arrested after a woman accused him of rape but he denied the allegation, claiming that the encounter had been consensual.
The charges were later withdrawn by the state.
TimesLIVE