03/12/2020
SASCO STATEMENT ON THE ALLEGED ASSAULT BY the SASCO President.
Wednesday, 02/12/2020
The South African Students Congress (SASCO) National Working Committee (NWC) learnt in the morning of Wednesday 2nd of December 2020 through a Facebook post that there is an allegation that Comrade Bamanye Matiwane has assaulted the former Regional Secretary of Western Region, Cde Noxolo Koko, in a private lodge in PE. The SGO was then tasked to urgently convene an NWC so that the President can account of this said occurrence of events.
The NWC has received a detailed report from the President, Cde Nosiphiwo Ngqunge who is also our NWC member and was also present at the lodge. We further went on to investigate who was present who can collaborate the details so as to establish whether or not indeed President did lay his hands on the alleged individual or any person for that matter. We do this because violence in its totality is a cancer we must never accept in our society.
As the NWC we fully accept the version of events as detailed by those who were present at the place of fun. The President has also expressed disappointment that the commotion is misused to be something that it never was and that such a sensitive topic is used to advance political agendas, what is more disappointing is that the propeller of such serious allegations is somebody of high calibre who holds a senior position in the NYTT, there is completely no consideration for the sensitivity of the matter or consideration of the alleged victims mental well-being or any party involved.
The NWC has expressed strongly that SASCO remains a safe space and will forever be a space in which women & members of LGBTQI+ community will find comfort and their voice, which is why we have decided to urge those involved in the commotion being our NWC member and former SASCO member to handle their emotions differently when they have heated debates because Woman on Woman violence is also not accepted so the said incident of splashing alcohol remains unfortunate.
The President has advised the NWC that he will be seeking legal advice and pursue a case of defamation by the Spokerson of the NYTT as her malicious intents have had a serious consequence on both the image of SASCO and the persona of Comrade Bamanye Matiwane as a leader and activists. We shall afford the President that space to deal with the legal issues.
We call on members of the South African Students Congress (SASCO) and society at large to accept the versions of event as narrated by the eyewitnesses and to also refrain from the Social Media spats. Gender Based Violence & Femicide is a serious scourge which we must collectively wage a war against and that fight must go beyond the call of duty and the 16 days of activism.
We want to further express that the position of the organization when it comes to GBV remains the same, we do not condone violence and we will ensure that we provide the necessary support for anyone who falls victim of GBV, we also encourage victims to not only speak out but to report any case of GBV, the doors and offices of the organization are always open to provide any support needed.
Issued by SASCO NWC
Buthanani Thobela
Secretary General
For Enquiries:
Luvuyo Barnes
Media and Communication Liaison
079 393 7131
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