South Africa’s municipality elected a child rapist and fraudster to be its mayor.

Jeffrey Donson, who was indicted for statutory and indecent rape in 2008 in the Western Cape’s Kannaland Municipality, was jailed and later reelected to his office.

Werner Meshoa won the position of deputy mayor, even though he was sentenced for fraud and obstruction during his time as speaker. 

South Africa has seen a flurry of protests since the elections of both high-ranking officials, from groups that promote gender violence to those who help child rape victims to charity workers.

Mayor Donson received just five years in prison for rape. He appealed to Western Cape High Court, where his conviction wasn’t overturned and his sentence was reduced.  

Jeffrey Donson (pictured) was found guilty of statutory rape and indecent assault and jailed while mayor of the Western Cape's Kannaland Municipality in 2008 but has been re-elected back into office

Jeffrey Donson, (pictured) was indicted for statutory and indecent rape. He was jailed in 2008 while Kannaland Municipality’s mayor in Western Cape. However, he has been reelected to the office. 

For the sex attack of a minor, Judge Lee Bozalek wholly suspended the prison term and instead fined him £1,000 and put him on a sex offenders rehab programme. 

After being elected by 45 percent of the remaining 25,000 voters, the two men are now in charge of the Garden Route municipality in Western Province.

The African National Congress, which received 21% of the votes, supported the pair and formed a coalition together with The Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa.

In June Meshoa was sentenced for fraud to 18 months jail or a £300 fine and a suspended four-year prison sentence for obstructing justice and 36 months house arrest.

The truth was eventually revealed that Meshoa, a 2012 teacher who had committed serious sexual misconduct with one of his pupils, was fired. But the matter was never reported to the police.

Although their convictions for fraud and child rape were well-known, voters still elected them to office with the support of the African National Congress.

Despite both men’s seriousness, ICOSA Chiefs did not allow them to be kicked out. They said they couldn’t be forced out unless they had served a full year in prison.

The election of both men to high office has caused a storm of outrage across South Africa from gender-based violence groups to charities working with child rape victims. Pictured: A councillor (left) congratulates Mayor Jeffrey Donson (centre) and Deputy Mayor Werner Meshoa (right)

South Africa has seen a flurry of protests since the election of both men for high office. These outrages range from charities that help victims of child rape to gender-based violence organizations. Pictured: A councillor (left) congratulates Mayor Jeffrey Donson (centre) and Deputy Mayor Werner Meshoa (right)

These men ran for the Kannaland municipal elections in this month’s October, and were elected.

The ICOSA is now the government of the municipality. News24, a respected South African news agency, has declared that Kannaland ranks second in terms of performance within the Western Cape.

Nicolaas Valentyn, Kannaland’s ANC Speaker, slammed News24’s revelation that the Mayor and his Deputy were convicted criminals in an ‘insult for voters’.

He stated that the successful first meeting was met by a almost joyous News24 cheering on those who were elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

‘ICOSA will not be diverted from clickbait headlines or lazy rants made by gossips. Journalists’ individual faults are no excuse to surrender’ he declared.

Action Society, an organization that advocates against gender-based violence called for Donson and Meshoa’s immediate removal from office.

Their convictions for child rape and fraud were public knowledge but the electorate still voted them into office. Above pictured Meshoa (left) and Donson (right)

 Their convictions for child rape and fraud were public knowledge but the electorate still voted them into office. Above: Donson and Meshoa.

Ian Cameron spoke out, stating that Kammaland’s residents need to know that the candidates they elected for Mayor and Vice Mayor are both criminals.

‘One was a child rapist who received a slap on his wrist, and the other is a convicted fraudster. Both were reelected with support from the ANC.

“One child rapist is filling the top job in the municipality, while the other one is being filled by fraudsters.” It seems like an awful movie script, he stated.

Opposition parties, Gender Based Violence and groups representing victims of child rape and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have asked for Donson’s and Meshoa’s removal from office.

In a coalition agreement, they were elected to power with the ANC that supported them.

David Kamfe, ICOSA’s Western Cape leader, retorted by saying that: ‘The people spoke and we ask people respect that they voted Mr Donson for Mr Meshoa.

According to the Commission for Gender Equity, “We see this development as an insult in the face for the fight against GBV. We intend to involve all parties involved in this matter.”

News24 revealed that the ANC had begun to withdraw support for ICOSA Kannaland after the criminal convictions and Deputy Mayor of Kannaland were made public.

Jeffrey Donson was found guilty of statutory rape and indecent assault and jailed while mayor in 2008 but has been re-elected back into office

Jeffrey Donson was convicted of indecent assault, statutory rape, and he was jailed as mayor in 2008. He has since been elected back to office.

Sifiso Mitsweni (ANC Provincial Spokesperson in Western Cape) confirmed that ‘grave concerns” had been rightly expressed by the members and public about their election.

He stated that the ANC has a commitment to fighting gender-based violence as well as corruption and fraud. This is something we take seriously.

He stated that ‘The ANC won’t flinch from its principles, and it’s unfortunate ICOSA decided to field such candidates. We are currently investigating what the situation is’.

Mayor Donson indicated that he was going to reflect on the situation and said: “Media inquiries concerning my 2008 statutory and indecent assaults and rape have greatly shocked my family.

“It haunts me even though it’s been years since the tragedy and I am still suffering from its effects. Over the weekend, I’ll spend quality time with my family and make decisions about my future.