The African National Congress (ANC) was first to wash its hands clean of any association with the re-elected Kannaland mayor.
Convicted child rapist re-elected as Kannaland mayor
As reported by IOL News, Jeffrey Donson was retained as mayor of Garden Route’s Kannaland Local Municipality, after a coalition marriage between the Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa (ICOSA) and the ANC.
While, at first, this was seen as the ANC’s stride towards laying the building blocks for a resurgence in the Western Cape, things quickly changed when complaints were raised, by members of the party and the community, about Donson’s checkered past.
The Kannaland mayor was, in 2008, convicted of indecent assault and seven counts of statutory rape, egregious crimes he committed between August and September 2004.
At the time, Donson — a former school teacher — was a mayor by day, and a DJ by night. It’s believed mayor used his position of power and influence to lure a 15-year-old into a sexual escapade.
Between August and September 2004, Donson engaged in sexual acts with the minor on seven occasions in his municipal office, a factory and a colleague’s office, among other location.
Donson’s unravelling came when the girl, after a failed attempt at running away from home, spilled the beans to her parents who’d reported her missing.
The mayor was handed five years and after an appeal, the sentence was withheld but suspended for its entire duration. Donson also had to pay a R20 000 fine and complete a mandatory rehabilitation programme for sex offenders.
Somehow, in Donson’s bid to reclaim mayorship in Kannaland, the ANC did not recognise the risk of endorsing his re-election.
“The ANC can never flinch on its principles, especially in this era of renewal. It’s unfortunate that Icosa has decided to field such characters, we will establish all the facts and act without any delay,” ANC provincial spokesperson in the Western Cape Sifiso Mtsweni said.
It’s confirmed that the party will hold talks with its structures and return with its position on entering a coalition with ICOSA.