By Moshoeshoe Monare
Women in the ANC say they are not disappointed with the National Executive Committee (NEC) overturning the dismissal of the party's former chief whip Mbulelo Goniwe because they believe justice will be done.
The NEC, the ANC's second highest decision-making body, has called for a fresh hearing into allegations of sexual harassment under a new disciplinary committee and reinstated Goniwe as a member saying the procedural disciplinary process was flawed.
The ANC Women's League, instrumental in pushing for the organisation to suspend Goniwe, said it was not disappointed and trusted the ANC to deal with the matter fairly.
"We believe if there is a feeling there was a technical problem in dealing with the matter by the disciplinary committee, then justice will be done. We believe there is no way in which the ANC will not adopt a position which is not in line with policy. The ANC is committed to dealing with abuse and violence against women. We believe the new process will also follow the same principle," said ANC Women's League deputy president Mavivi Myakayaka-Manzini.
She said she did not have any fears of the process being undermined because "we were part of those discussions as members of the NEC".
In December, the ANC national disciplinary committee, under the chairmanship of former education minister Kader Asmal, expelled Goniwe as MP and chief whip, and suspended his membership of the party for three years.
Goniwe was found guilty of abuse of office and bringing the ANC into disrepute after he was accused of sexually harassing a parliamentary employee at his Acacia Park parliamentary village home in Cape Town in October. Although there had been no physical contact with the 21-year-old parliamentary office assistant, Goniwe made overtures of a sexual nature, it found.
"The NEC found the disciplinary process to be procedurally flawed. In the interests of fairness, it decided the matter should be reheard by a new disciplinary committee. The members of this committee will be identified by ANC officials," the ANC said in its statement.
Chairperson of the ANC's parliamentary caucus, Vytjie Mentor, orchestrated the campaign to bring Goniwe to book is She even took the victim into her guardianship.
"I agree with the NEC on the issue of fairness. I still truly believe that the ANC is serious about protecting women from sexual abuse. Justice must be done to both the victim as well as the accused," she said.
Goniwe could not be reached for comment yesterday and declined to comment on Saturday.
After the ruling, Goniwe said that Asmal, who told the media there was prima facie evidence that warranted a hearing, prejudged the case.