Sexual harassment case against Mabe dismissed
Updated | By Sinethemba Madolo
The ANC’s national spokesperson Pule Mabe is set to return to work after he was cleared of sexual harassment by the governing party.
The party said on Monday that the case has been thrown out due to a lack of evidence.
In December last year, Mabe's personal assistant wrote a letter to the party's deputy secretary-general, Jessie Duarte, alleging that he had sexually harassed her.
The woman alleged that when she complained about the advances, she was demoted and her salary slashed.
An ANC grievance panel was chaired by former Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini.
"The grievance panel, with the agreement of the two parties, followed a two-pronged approach on the grievance issues raised,” the ANC said in a statement.
“The panel engaged in a mediation process, without prejudice, with the parties. The parties to the grievance reached agreement on all human resource issues and signed a mediation agreement to this effect.”
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The panel then looked into the sexual harassment charges.
"The formal grievance hearing on the allegations of sexual harassment was held in January. Both parties were given opportunity to present heads of argument, to call witnesses, to cross examine witnesses, and to present closing arguments before the grievance panel, on the allegation of sexual harassment," it says.
The panel absolved Mabe while at the same time recommending that the ANC adopt a sexual harassment policy within the next three months.
"The ANC should do training for all its management and staff in offices throughout the country on this policy, address the human resource issues raised during the grievance procedure, and ensure the complainant’s reintegration as an employee of the ANC.
“The panel found that there was no evidence of sexual harassment, and that the matter be closed and the privacy of staff and manager’s bedrooms at meetings must be respected, and where meetings are to be held or work to be done, arrangements should be made for such to take place in meeting rooms or public spaces,” the statement said.
Mabe and his personal assistant are both expected to report for work this week.
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