SAPS

Photo: Envato Elements

ANC branch secretary given a suspended sentence for assault on woman

The 36-year-old ANC branch secretary Thabang Setona handed himself in, but the case was struck off the roll.

SAPS

Photo: Envato Elements

Back in February 2018, Thabang Setona, 36, was captured on film assaulting and kicking Olivia Makete, 52, during a BLF march to Luthuli House. Makete did not take part in the march but was in the Johannesburg CBD area to register a water and electricity complaint.

As reported by Kgothatso Madisa from Sowetan Live, the Orange Farm resident “suffered several injuries and struggled to walk.” Setona also kicked her in the rib cage and stomach and hit her with a stick.

Setona handed himself over to authorities soon after the incident, but the matter was struck off the roll when Makete failed to lodge a complaint. At the time, ANC spokesperson Khusela Sangoni condemned Setona’s actions:

“It is callous, it is degrading, and it is inhumane. Regardless of whether it was a woman or not. It is even worse because it was a woman. Those people who conducted that act do not act on behalf of the African National Congress, and at this point, I would be skeptical to even call them members of the African National Congress. This is totally against the values of the organisation.”

FEBRUARY 5, 2018. A man believed to be Thabang Setona, who is the ANC branch secretary of Ward 62, is seen assaulting a woman , who was riding on the bac of a vehicle. Earlier he said that if the Black First Land First (BLF) wants the president of the county, they must go to Union Buildings. He said “here we have the president of the ANC, Cyril Ramaphosa.” PHOTOGRAPH: ALON SKUY

Setona was charged with assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm on 4 February 2019 and given a suspended sentence. A statement read at the Johannesburg Central Police station acknowledged the diligence of the investigating team:

“This good conviction is the result of diligent work done by an investigating officer. We hope this sentence will scare away would-be offenders from committing the same crime. No person has a right to assault another person.”

The ANC Greater Johannesburg Region team “welcomed the court judgment in relation to the case of its Branch Secretary comrade Thabang Setona who assaulted an elderly woman outside the ANC Headquarters last year.”

Social media was buzzing with the news today. While some Netizens felt that the press “seeks to destroy the image of the ANC” with this case, other users pointed out that Setona is an ANC branch secretary, and that he was wearing an ANC shirt while assaulting Makete.

A Twitter user come to his defense and said: “He was there to defend the Luthuli House building against people who were marching to the building. So him beating up the woman was in furthering his objective of protecting ANC building.”

Another user said the sentence was “too small,” while Michael Mabusela added: “Besides kicking a woman, that granny is old […] He deserves three years at least.”

*This article was edited to clarify that Setona received a 12-month suspended sentence. He will only face prison time if he commits another offence in the 12-month period.