THE Commission on Gender Equality in Limpopo is investigating why action has not been taken against an employee who allegedly sexually harassed and raped his junior at Legend Lodge and Resorts in Mokopane.
The commission's acting regional manager, Bernard Mahloko, said yesterday they had met with the victim and management of the company last Wednesday.
"We are now involved in the case," said Mahloko.
"We want to make sure that justice is served and the rights of the victim are protected. We will also be offering moral support to the victim until the case is finalised in court."
The 32-year-old victim, from Rustenburg in North West, was allegedly raped by her supervisor on December 9 last year.
The man had allegedly kidnapped the woman from her workplace and took her to his sleeping quarters in the lodge, where he allegedly raped her.
After the alleged rape, the victim laid a charge with the police and the suspect was arrested.
He is currently out on R1000 bail after he spent nine days in custody.
Contrary to Sowetan's initial report, the perpetrator is a not a white person.
The story of the failure by management to take action against the alleged rapist had sparked a racist debate at the institution after another black male worker was suspended for wishing a "Happy Valentine's Day" to his white associate.
Mahloko said the commission would remain on the side of the victim to ensure that if the victim was moved to another branch she would still retain her salary.
"We have informed them that if they are going to shift her they must retain her salary," he said.
"It must be the same or higher. If it is going to be less, it will be in contravention of the Labour Relations Act."
The commission said such cases were rife but most of them remained unknown because they were not reported.
Nhlanhla Mokwena, chief executive officer of Organisation Opposing Women Abuse, said workplace rape victims were often blamed by society and found themselves nursing the pain alone.
Cosatu has said it would fight to the bitter end to ensure that the victim's rights were respected and was mobilising anti-women abuse organisations to picket when the suspect appeared again at Mahwelereng Magistrate's Court on March 16.
Rape of lodge employee probed
THE Commission on Gender Equality in Limpopo is investigating why action has not been taken against an employee who allegedly sexually harassed and raped his junior at Legend Lodge and Resorts in Mokopane.
The commission's acting regional manager, Bernard Mahloko, said yesterday they had met with the victim and management of the company last Wednesday.
"We are now involved in the case," said Mahloko.
"We want to make sure that justice is served and the rights of the victim are protected. We will also be offering moral support to the victim until the case is finalised in court."
The 32-year-old victim, from Rustenburg in North West, was allegedly raped by her supervisor on December 9 last year.
The man had allegedly kidnapped the woman from her workplace and took her to his sleeping quarters in the lodge, where he allegedly raped her.
After the alleged rape, the victim laid a charge with the police and the suspect was arrested.
He is currently out on R1000 bail after he spent nine days in custody.
Contrary to Sowetan's initial report, the perpetrator is a not a white person.
The story of the failure by management to take action against the alleged rapist had sparked a racist debate at the institution after another black male worker was suspended for wishing a "Happy Valentine's Day" to his white associate.
Mahloko said the commission would remain on the side of the victim to ensure that if the victim was moved to another branch she would still retain her salary.
"We have informed them that if they are going to shift her they must retain her salary," he said.
"It must be the same or higher. If it is going to be less, it will be in contravention of the Labour Relations Act."
The commission said such cases were rife but most of them remained unknown because they were not reported.
Nhlanhla Mokwena, chief executive officer of Organisation Opposing Women Abuse, said workplace rape victims were often blamed by society and found themselves nursing the pain alone.
Cosatu has said it would fight to the bitter end to ensure that the victim's rights were respected and was mobilising anti-women abuse organisations to picket when the suspect appeared again at Mahwelereng Magistrate's Court on March 16.
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