Pretoria - Councillor John Conference Ntuli regrets the embarrassment he has brought to his party the ANC, the City of Tshwane and his family by having a romantic relationship with a minor schoolgirl.
Ntuli, the city’s Ward 63 councillor since the 2011 local government elections, also apologised for the amount of pressure and emotional strain the issue would expose the minor to. He was pictured kissing her.
The girl, whose identity is known to the Pretoria News but cannot be revealed because she is a minor, lives in the same area as Ntuli in Atteridgeville.
She is in Grade 10 at Voortrekkerhoogte High School in Pretoria. Ntuli, meanwhile, is believed to be in his early 50s.
The two have apparently been lovebirds for almost two years now, according to those with inside information. Their relationship is known about in their neighbourhood.
Two photographs of them in compromising positions have been doing the rounds on social media platforms since the beginning of the week.
They were locked in a passionate kiss in one photo, with their eyes closed.
Ntuli was seemingly topless, while the petite light-skinned girl wore only what appeared to be a blue bra.
In the second photo, the girl was snapped with a half-smile, with the councillor’s face close to hers, just above her left shoulder, again seemingly topless.
The teenager indicated on her Facebook page that she was in a relationship. Two days ago, she spat venom online about the issue with her online friends.
In the post, she confirmed that she was indeed in a relationship with the man with whom she was pictured, declaring her love for him. The girl blogged, switching between Tswana and English.
“Am aware that my picture is trending; it’s just a picture not a sex tape… Yeah, ka mo rata (I love him).”
The love-struck teen continued: “Just you showing it or sending it to people doesn’t change anything in my life… It’s a picture that everybody will soon forget about… You are just wasting your time… I am still gonna hold my chin and shoulder high.”
The post, which had 11 comments, was removed from her Facebook page moments after word spread that the Pretoria News was following up on the matter.
Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa said he was very disturbed by the developments involving the social conduct of Ntuli. He said he regretted the exposure such conduct would put on the young woman.
Ramokgopa sent his unwavering support to the family and associates of the minor.
He committed to ensure that in his capacity as ANC chairman in the region that the conduct of the councillor was addressed through internal party structures.
The mayor’s spokesman, Blessing Manale, said despite the incident, the metro remained committed to its principles and values of moral high standing among its employees and representatives.
“Councillors are elected to serve and represent the interests of the whole community in their local government area; this includes living to the highest moral and acceptable community values.
“This is because they are in a position of trust which should entail deep emotional dedication to their positions of leadership, and be a good example to those they lead,” Manale said.
After consultations with the chief whip and Speaker of council, he said, a determination would be made on appropriate action to be taken against Ntuli.
Manale said the code of conduct for councillors extended to their personal lives as they were public officials and the face of the city.
Councillors were required to conduct their council responsibilities and personal lives in a manner that was beyond reproach, he added.
Pretoria News
* The picture previously attached to this story has been removed as it was not a photo of the councillor concerned. IOL regrets the error.