EDITORIAL | Jeffrey Donson’s re-election is a slap in the face on many levels

As the country prepares to commemorate 16 days of activism for no violence against women and children, a now 32-year-old woman may have seen a picture of the man who raped her 17 years ago adorned in mayoral chains as he was again pronounced mayor of the Western Cape’s Kannaland municipality. 

This picture of Jeffrey Donson, alongside his deputy, Werner Meshoa, a convicted fraudster who was also fired from the department of education, allegedly because of sexual misconduct involving a child, is one of the most disturbing of those captured during this election period. 

Two men, painting a picture of unity in serving the people of Kannaland, while sharing a history and background, is troubling, to say the least.

Ironically, the mayoral chains in which Donson was photographed have been worn by mayors for decades as a sign of honour and dignity, begging the question: does Donson understand and respect the esteemed position to which he has been appointed?

While the ANC has said it is reviewing its coalition decision with the Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa (Icosa), which put forward Donson as its mayoral candidate, one cannot but question how seriously the nation views the impact of abuse, rape and sexual assault when such a candidate’s name is put forward in the first place.

When Donson was convicted of rape in 2008, he was mayor of the municipality because Icosa, the organisation to which he belongs,, and the ANC entered a coalition.

Was the ruling party really unaware of Donson’s not-so-golden past or did it, like many have done when it comes to crimes involving women and children, turn a blind eye? 

A lot needs to be done about the government’s stance on sexual predators, including ensuring they are not bestowed with esteemed positions, adding insult to injury for their victims.

While not much has been revealed about Donson’s case, the Commission for Gender Equity, which has launched an investigation into his re-election, said he appealed the matter in the Western Cape High Court. The court did not overturn his conviction, but reduced his sentence to a suspended five years and a R20,000 fine.

It is concerning that Donson, a rapist whose victim was a child, got off with what some may deem a slap on the wrist by the justice system. 

Questions also arise regarding how the people of Kannaland reacted to Donson again being in the running for the mayoral seat despite his conviction. Does time absolve a rapist or does it make people forget? 

A GroundUp report from earlier this year painted a grim picture of Donson’s legacy.

It said everything was falling apart in Kannaland, from water supplies, sewage and rubbish collection to other infrastructure because of what it said were strange political alliances and infighting.

This said, Donson’s return to the mayoral seat is not only a slap to the face to the people of Kannaland, who deserve good service delivery, but a slap in the face of the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) and his victim. It also makes a mockery of SA’s fight against the GBV scourge.