A rape case against a Soweto councillor has been withdrawn by the Roodepoort Magistrates' Court. The African National Congress in Johannesburg has cleared and provided an update on the ruling made by the court concerning the case of rape that was opened against Councillor Velaphi Tefu from Ward 44 in Braamfischerville.

STRUCK OFF THE ROLL

The Roodepoort Magistrates Court ruled that the case against the councillor must be withdrawn from the court roll. The matter was registered by a 41-year-old woman from Braamfischerville. The court has found that the woman lied to settle a personal vendetta.

The victim told the police that she was on her way from a local tavern in the Braamfischerville area when she met the councillor. She claimed that Tefu grabbed her and pushed her towards an open veld. The woman accused councillor Tefu of undressing her and raping her several times without a condom.

The ANC Caucus in Johannesburg condemned the incident and said it violates any human rights that protect women and children in South Africa. "We, therefore, take matters of this nature seriously and believe that they shouldn't be recklessly used to settle unprecedented matters because there are true victims that really need support from the judicial system," said ANC Chief whip in the region ,Nkosephayo Zungu. "Let us refrain from falsely reporting allegations related to GBV when we obviously know it has the ability to harm the accused. Let us remain united towards fighting any form of GBV in our communities and provide the utmost necessary support to victims," said Zungu.