The South African chapter of civil rights movement #NotInMyName on Monday called on Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng interim provincial leader Solly Msimanga to step aside while law enforcement agencies investigate a sexual harassment case laid by DA Gauteng legislature member Nkele Molapo.

“It is a pity and a shame how the DA has handled this issue. Instead of being objective and clear, not taking sides with the alleged perpetrator, the DA has acted otherwise,” said #NotInMyName secretary general Themba Masango outside the Brooklyn Police Station in Pretoria on Monday.

“As #NotInMyName we are saying if Solly is interested in clearing his name and making sure that this cloud is not hanging over his head, he should step aside until such a time when this case has been properly ventilated.

“[Msimanga] should not put his political aspirations ahead of his name and justice. Moreover, if the crime said to have happened is proven, then he must go.”

#NotInMyName activists accompanied Molapo to the Brooklyn police station to open the case against Msimanga.

Molapo said she lodged a sexual harassment complaint internally against “a senior leader” for an incident that took place six years ago, in 2014.

“Instead of acknowledging my complaint and assuring me that they will conduct a thorough investigation free of bias, my party elected to inform the accused, who then rushed to social media displaying a behaviour of someone having a serious meltdown, in a lousy attempt to mobilise public sympathy, and obviously denied the incident,” she said.

“On Friday, 09 October 2020, I wrote to the party leadership expressing my discomfort at attending a party event which was to be held [on Saturday 10 October 2020] due to the possibility of the accused attending as well. The party moved swiftly to accept my apology, opting to rather have the accused attend than the victim.”

Molapo said the statement issued by the DA on Sunday was “casting aspersions” on her complaint, questioning the timing which “I’m ready and willing to defend”.

“The DA went further and announced, using official party communications machinery, that the accused opened a crimen injuria case. The least I expected was for my party to remain neutral and subject both myself and the accused to a thorough and unbiased hearing. I now doubt the fairness of the hearing, with good reason,” she said.

“It is important to note that throughout the week, I remained disciplined and resisted the urge to throw cheap jabs on social media, I even declined to comment when journalists called me for comments. I wanted to afford the party the opportunity to deal with this matter, without external pressure.”

Meanwhile, the ANC caucus in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on Monday said it commended Molapo’s “bravery for standing up for herself and for all women in Gauteng by laying sexual harassment charges against the disgraced, axed mayor of Tshwane and DA Gauteng provincial leader Mr Solly Msimanga”.

The African National Congress (ANC) said it noted with serious concern the attempt to discredit and vilify the complainant by further subjecting her to humiliation through casting aspersions on her integrity by the DA.

“Their statement is not only shameful and deeply regrettable but it is a reflection of how women are treated in this country each time they expose those that violate them. The insensitivity displayed by Msimanga and the DA show disdain and scant regard for women and victims of gender-based violence,” said ANC Gauteng chief whip, Mzi Khumalo.

“Our country has been deeply traumatised by acts of extreme violence perpetrated by men against women and children, we are everyday mourning the deaths of several women and girls who were murdered by men, for the Democratic Alliance to release such a reckless statement is a shocking revelation to their true values and identity.”

The DA statement issued on Sunday said Molapo was undergoing “a serious disciplinary hearing” within the party.