An African Democratic Change (ADeC) candidate contesting the local government elections on 1 November, has been suspended following a recording brought to the party’s attention indicating that the candidate was involved in a plot to perform sexual acts on minors.
In the recording, the voices of two people, one alleged to be the candidate who had worked in the Wentworth and Merebank communities for many years, and the other, a female, can be heard in what seems like a trusted conversation, planning a way to get minors, as young as six and nine, in a vulnerable position where the male in the conversation can either perform sexual acts on them or rape them. Speaking to Tabloid Newspapers, ADeC leader, Visvin Reddy, said that he heard the disturbing voice note and was angry. He then contacted the candidate, who failed to answer his phone or return the call. “A meeting was held where it was decided that the candidate would be suspended. Although he failed to contact us, we sent him a message. He then contacted us and notified us of his version of accounts. He said that the woman was known to him, and is a sex worker who was addicted to drugs and tried to extort money from him. He said that she had contacted him and told him that she had children who she wanted to sell. He claimed to have been going along with the conversation to try to find out where the children were, so that he could try to help them. He said he hoped that she would lead him to the house, but she did not and he dropped her off at her house and left. He said he did not go to the police because he did not get the evidence he had required. He said that the woman in the voice note was known to him. Police have traced her and are conducting their investigation,” said Reddy.
According to Reddy, the candidate has laid charges against the woman, including crimen injuria, extortion and defamation. The recording, which is in the possession of Tabloid Newspapers, seems to be recorded in the candidate’s vehicle. The woman mentions the candidate’s name and surname, telling him not to waste her time. The woman asks the man what he plans to do to the child and he says he wants to “finger” her. He said he cannot do anything further because she will get hurt and asks if the woman will clean the child up afterwards. He also told the woman to set some children up with drugs or something illegal so that he can then approach them and ask them what was going on, further indicating that he would then have his way with the girls and manipulate them into not telling their parents. He could be heard saying: “Let’s get them goofed and see how far we can go.” The woman in the recording asked the man if he has done something similar before and he said he has, with a child in Chatsworth. Reddy said the internal enquiry should be completed by Friday and should the allegations be untrue or baseless, the suspended candidate will be reinstated and will continue as a candidate for the upcoming election.
