Former Gauteng MEC for social development Bob Mabaso has been cleared of allegations of sexual harassment against him - and now he wants an apology from his accuser.
Pastor Nonqaba Mosunkutu, the wife of Gauteng MEC for Agriculture, Land and Nature Conservation Khabisi Mosunkutu, went to Premier Mbhazima Shilowa on January 9, 2006 and claimed that Mabaso had attempted to rape her.
After hearing of the allegations, Mabaso agreed to resign from his post on January 26. He was told by two senior officials in Shilowa's office not to have any contact with the complainant and her husband.
Mabaso had always maintained his innocence, although Mosunkutu - who had worked in Mabaso's office - went on to lay criminal charges.
After Mabaso's resignation, Mosunkutu approached the police and said the offences were committed in November 2005.
No criminal charges were laid, and instead police referred the docket to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision.
The state declined to prosecute Mabaso. Advocate Charin de Beer, Johannesburg's director of public prosecutions, said she had found nothing to warrant criminal proceedings against Mabaso. She considered the matter finalised.
On Thursday, Mabaso and his wife Lizzy spoke of their ordeal for the first time since the allegations surfaced. Mabaso said the state's findings had vindicated him.
"It was a very difficult period for my family and friends. Our children went through a humiliating and painful period at school and at work.
"These allegations have dented my standing in the community," Mabaso said.
The visibly aggrieved Lizzy Mabaso told the media that the allegations had come as a surprise to her.
She said Mosunkutu told the police that Mabaso had harassed her between November 7 and 8, but that Mosunkutu was among her husband's regular visitors while he was hospitalised for an undisclosed ailment at the Brenthurst Clinic between November 14 and 22.
Mabaso confirmed Lizzy's version and said that on one of the visits, Pastor Mosunkutu came carrying a fruit basket "from Mr and Mrs Mosunkutu".
Mabaso said he was unaware of what had prompted Pastor Mosunkutu to lay criminal charges.
He brushed aside insinuations from the media about a possible extra-marital affair between him and Mosunkutu.
"I initially thought the allegations were a joke," Mabaso said, before asking the media to contact Pastor Mosunkutu about her motives for laying charges against him.
He said the two families had been friends for more than two decades.
Asked if he was ready to forgive Mosunkutu, Mabaso said: "I will only forgive her if she apologises to me and my family. I would accept her apology. I do not hold grudges against her."
Mabaso did not want to say whether he intended applying to be reinstated to his position.
The sexual harassment claims against Mabaso would still be investigated internally by the ANC, the party said on Thursday.
"Now that the case has been finalised by the National Prosecuting Authority, I am ready to take part in the ANC internal disciplinary process to finalise the matter.
"I've also lodged a complaint within the ANC (against the harassment complainant), which I requested to be investigated and decided upon," Mabaso said.
Numerous attempts to contact Mosunkutu were unsuccessful.