EFF councillor in Nelson Mandela Bay, Zilindile Vena, has resigned from the party after being arrested on Monday on a charge of rape.
In a statement, Vena said that his resignation and suspension from all party duties “was done so that I can face the rule of law with regards the allegations levelled against me and protect the esteem and integrity of the organisation I belong to”.
He said a public representative “must resemble the highest level of moral integrity, responsibility and must be an example to the community he leads.”
Vena said he intends to cooperate fully with authorities, adding that he commits to continue “to fight violence and discrimination in all forms.”
Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana, said that a 34-year-old man was arrested after a 22-year-old woman alleged to have been raped in a flat in Central, Port Elizabeth.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident are currently under investigation by the Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit,” he said
Kinana said the “suspect handed himself to the police and was immediately taken to court on rape charges.”
Vena was granted R5000 bail and the case was postponed to 15 April.
