Women’s rights groups have come out strongly against a two-month unpaid suspension imposed by a disciplinary hearing on a Worcester traffic chief found guilty of sexually harassing a subordinate.
They think the sentence is too lenient.
Anton Cole was found guilty at the end of October, and learnt his fate on Tuesday.
Western Cape traffic chief Kenny Africa said only that “the traffic chief has indicated that he will appeal”.
Jo Lennox, spokeswoman for Western Cape Community Safety MEC Dan Plato, said provincial traffic authorities were awaiting the results of the appeal before taking further action.
“Should the appeal fail, the sentence will come into effect. Mr Cole will then have to serve out the sentence and will need to undergo gender sensitivity training and be redeployed.”
Lisa Vetten, of the Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre, said it was “very surprising” that Cole had not been demoted or dismissed.
“Sexual harassment should be seen as a dismissible offence. We may not be aware of the mitigation factors in the case, but he is a senior who harassed a subordinate, and this sets a very bad example.”
Vetten said her concerns were that nothing prevented the perpetrator from doing the same thing to someone else.
“I think that violence against women, in general, seems to be taking a back seat, and sexual harassment is not seen as serious enough.”
Gender Equality Commissioner Yvette Abrahams encouraged the victim to approach her office and lay a complaint if she was unhappy with the outcome of her case.
“We always advise women to come in early. In most cases the victims endure the harassment for years before they decide to take the matter further.
“Nobody should go through emotional abuse, touching, pinching or threats, to earn money. The stuff that goes on at people’s work is quite frightening,” she said.
Jennifer Williams, director of the Women’s Legal Centre, said the finding raised serious issues about whether Cole would continue working in the same space as the complainant following the suspension period.
“This could result in serious trauma for her. If so, he should not be allowed to return to work directly with her, as her superior.”
She said research showed that about 76 percent of women experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.
The complainant declined to comment. Her legal representative, Greg Duncan, would say only that civil proceedings were still pending.
Cole could not be reached for comment. - Weekend Argus