![STILL WAITING FOR PERMISSION TOO USE PIC AS IT IS A RAPE CASE - ACCUSED: ANC member of the Limpopo legislature Maxwell Nemadzivhanani appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court yesterday. [Wed]. Pic by MOLOKO MOLOTO](https://image-prod.iol.co.za/16x9/1600/STILL-WAITING-FOR-PERMISSION-TOO-USE-PIC-AS-IT-IS-A-RAPE-CASE-ACCUSED-ANC-member-of-the-Limpopo-legislature-Maxwell-Nemadzivhanani-appeared-in-the-Polokwane-Magistrate-s-Court-yesterday-Wed-Pic-by-MOLOKO-MOLOTO?source=https://xlibris.public.prod.oc.inl.infomaker.io:8443/opencontent/objects/b3d98c9c-f8f6-550c-b3ee-a923f8a8b2cd)
Johannesburg - An ANC member of the Limpopo legislature, Maxwell Nemadzivhanani, has been arrested and charged with rape after a teenage girl complained to the police.
He appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old alleged victim is from Malamulele, about 170km from Polokwane.
Police say she arrived in Polokwane to meet Nemadzivhanani, who had allegedly promised her a job.
“He met her in Polokwane on Sunday and he took her to the lodge, where the alleged rape took place,” said Limpopo police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.
The Star understands that this happened at Zororo Lodge, outside Polokwane.
Mulaudzi said the teenager had opened the case and Nemadzivhanani was arrested at his home on Monday.
In court on Wednesday, the former PAC secretary-general appeared apprehensive in the dock.
The State and his lawyer, Mashile Mokono, agreed that magistrate Janine Ungerer postpone the case to tomorrow for a formal bail application.
As he returned to the holding cells, Nemadzivhanani nodded to acknowledge the presence of Miriam Ramadwa and Patricia Mahlo, his fellow MPLs, in the court gallery.
Jan Tsiane, the ANC chief whip in the legislature, later said the party caucus had yet to discuss the matter.
He said the MPL remained innocent until proved otherwise, but emphasised that the party viewed the allegations in a serious light.
Nemadzivhanani is chairman of the legislature’s portfolio committee on public works.
He joined the ANC in 2004 after having served as the only MPL from the PAC.
He is the second prominent figure to be accused of rape at a lodge.
In 2010, Philip Mbofana, former head coach of Dynamos FC, was arrested after a woman accused him of raping her at the Golden Pillows Hotel in Polokwane.
The matter is still before court, said police spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Ronel Otto.
Mokono said the State wanted to keep Nemadzivhanani in custody for the next seven days in order to profile him.
“I said I was ready to proceed with a bail application [Wednesday], but the State said it wanted to profile him,” said Mokono.
Profiling includes checking if the accused person has pending cases or previous convictions. The State also had to verify Nemadzivhanani’s personal details.
But Mokono said he had persuaded the State to arrange a formal bail application on Friday.
No ANC leader was present in court except the two MPLs.
Nemadzivhanani was formally charged but was not asked to plead.
The Star