SONA sex attack: DA MP found guilty

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Cape Town - DA MP and deputy spokesman in the National Assembly, Archibald Figlan has received a suspended sentence after being found guilty of sexual harassment during an internal party disciplinary hearing.

The 56-year old will hold on to his job as a member of Parliament despite being hauled before the party’s federal legal commission for allegedly forcing a DA staffer to touch his crotch during a protest march in in the city ahead of President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address.

The woman at the centre of the case, a DA staffer who works at the party’s offices in Cape Town, officially laid a complaint against the MP in February.

The complainant claimed that the MP “took her hand and put it on his privates” during the march – moments before police dispersed the crowd using water cannon.

Three co-workers, who attended the march, gave supporting affidavits confirming her claims.

A co-worker at the time claimed that Figlan came up behind the woman and demanded to know why she did not respond when he called her name.

“She told him she was busy with a picket and he grabbed her hand and put it on his private parts, saying, ‘picket here’,” said the colleague.

The complaint was initially lodged with the DA’s Western Cape office before being referred to the party’s Federal Legal Commission (FLC).

The FLC held a hearing in April into the matter and returned with a guilty verdict, also providing their recommendations for an applicable sanction.

Nearly two months later, the party’s federal executive met at the weekend to discuss, amongst others, the findings of the FLC.

Confirming the guilty verdict, the DA’s federal chairman, James Selfe, said Figlan was found guilty of contravening five clauses of the federal constitution of the DA, which related to the code of conduct for members.

Explaining the sanctions, Selfe said these included that Figlan’s membership be terminated in terms of section 11.7.1.1 of the federal constitution, but that this termination be suspended, as long as Figlan sticks to certain conditions, which he must accept in writing.

According to the terms, Figlan must: make a monthly donation of R 1 000 to Nicro for a period of 12 months; should perform community service consisting of two hours a month for a period of 12 months and must apologise to the complainant in a handwritten letter.

The MP will also be prevented from holding any elected position in office in the party for five years.

The complainant said she was satisfied with the verdict.

When asked for comment, Figlan said he had not yet been informed about the finding and the sanction.

Asked if he was going to appeal, Figlan said: “Actually I haven’t received it yet, I am still waiting on it and cannot comment. They did not summon me yet.”

A DA party source said there was a feeling within the party that Figlan had a lucky break in holding on to his position as an MP.

“This is truly bizarre.

“If the charges were of such a serious nature, a suspended sanction does not seem a fitting punishment,” said the source.
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I agree with the party insider, its bizarre indeed. R12k and 24hrs over 12 months is a slap on the wrist.
 
Mmmmm. Why would you force someone to touch your studio? Anyway, me thinks he is very lucky to get away with that. This lady should have reported him to the police if she wanted some proper justice.
 
the leaders of tomorrow :whistle:
 
So the mighty self righteous DA........just as bad as those they are so good at pointing fingers at LOL
 
So the DA says its OK to sexually molest your subordinates as long as you don't get caught. If you do then please don't do it again at least for the next 5 years.

For a party that projects themselves as the moral high ground this is very much in bad taste.
 
Well, on the positive side he's been found guilty... if it was ANC, wouldn't have gotten that far, he would have been promoted and given an increase:)

However, still employed? Fire the bastard
 
The ANC should follow the DA's example.

Confirming the guilty verdict, the ANC's spokesman, Jackson Mthembu, said Zuma was found guilty of contravening five clauses of the federal constitution of the ANC, which related to the code of conduct for members.

Explaining the sanctions, Mthembu said these included that Zuma’s Nkandla country club membership be terminated in terms of section 11.7.1.1 of the federal constitution, but that this termination be suspended, as long as Zuma sticks to certain conditions, which he must accept in writing.

According to the terms, Zuma must: make a monthly donation of R 1 000 to SARS for a period of 12 months; should perform community service consisting of two hours a month for a period of 12 months as lifesaver at the Nkandla Firepool and must apologise to Mandonsela in a handwritten letter.
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I wonder if Zuma took Helen's hand and placed it on his honourable member if the DA would be happy if the ANC awarded a similar sanction?

Or would Mmusi be happy if this twat took Natalie's hand and did the same?
 
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A march is a weird time to ask someone to touch you on your studio.
 
Rape accused MP cries foul

Democratic Alliance MP Masizole Mnqasela believes his trial on a charge of rape that began in a small but crowded Wynberg Sexual Offences courtroom yesterday was a result of “foul play” against him.

Commenting outside the court before the start of his trial – in which he is pleading not guilty – the young MP said: “I don’t know why there’s this case against me. I believe there’s foul play.”

The opposition party’s MP stands accused of having sexual intercourse with a young woman without her consent on the night of May 30-31 last year.

His defence attorney, Thelma-Anne Pratt, said in court that the alleged victim was 18 years old at the time, and did not object to the state’s request to have her testimony to the court presented in camera, in order to protect her identity.

Pratt, acting on the instructions of defence attorney Frank Raymond, said she would leave the decision in the court’s hands, after which magistrate K Pillay ruled that the alleged victim, now 19, present her testimony without the presence of journalists.

The court also heard that the state would be relying on the minimum sentence applicable in this case, should the accused be found guilty.

Outside the court, about 25 demonstrators from the youth wing of the DA gathered to support the MP, who appeared in court smartly dressed and in the company of Lennit Max, a former MEC for safety and security in the Western Cape government.

Another DA MP, Archibald Mzuvukile Figlan, also turned out to support his political colleague.

Another supporter, Lwandiso Stofile of the DA youth wing, was among the demonstrators – mostly from Gugulethu, Nyanga, Strand and Makaza in Khayelitsha – outside the court.

Stofile said: “We feel that he has to be supported in this dark moment.

“We condemn violence against women, but the Constitution states that an accused is innocent until found guilty.”

Stofile described Mnqasela as “a role model” for youths not just in Khayelitsha but the entire Cape Town metro area.

The case continues.
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Feb 8 2011 6:54AM
Shaun Benton
http://www.thenewage.co.za/mobi/Detail.aspx?NewsID=9893&CatID=1008
 
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