By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The ANC has withdrawn its participation in a coalition with the convicted child rapist mayor of Kannaland Jeffrey Donson and his deputy, convicted fraudster Werner Meshoe.
Both Donson and Meshoa are senior leaders of Icosa, which entered into a coalition agreement with the ANC after the municipal elections.
ANC Western Cape spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni confirmed the party had withdrawn from its coalition with Icosa and would instead enter the opposition benches, with the provincial leadership visiting the municipality to bring effect to the decision.
Mtsweni said the party’s decision on Kannaland was in line with its own internal policies – the so-called step-aside rule.
The newly elected Kannaland municipal council made waves across South Africa just a few hours following its inauguration at the Townhall in Ladismith last month after the re-election of Donson.
The council, which consists of seven councillors – four ward councillors and three proportional representative (PR) councillors – held its first meeting today and elected the mayor and deputy.
The Municipal Council of Kannaland consists of Democratic Alliance [DA], African National Congress [ANC], Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa [ICOSA] and Kannaland Independent Party [KIP] representatives.
Donson was elected mayor of Kannaland, while Werner Meshoe from the same party was elected deputy mayor.
The election of Donson and Meshoe caused an uproar on social media as South Africans questioned the government’s commitment to dealing with criminal leaders.
Donson was convicted of one count of indecent assault and seven counts of statutory rape in 2008, with the charges relating to a 15-year-old girl he entered into a sexual relationship with while mayor of Kannaland. While his appeal was rejected, his sentence was reduced to a suspended term of imprisonment, correctional supervision, a R20,000 fine and a rehabilitation programme for sex offenders.
Meshoe,50, was found guilty by the Ladismith Regional Court for fraud and defeating the ends of justice in January this year.
“The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in George revealed that Meshoe submitted a false travelling claim amounting to just over R4,000 stating that he attended a meeting in Cape Town from the 16 to 21 October 2016 whilst he never did,” said the SAPS in a statement.
“Meshoe further deceitfully tried to cover his actions by convincing a friend and some of his family members to depose false sworn affidavits confirming that his vehicle had broken down during the days he was supposed to have attended the said meeting.”