By OBAKENG MAJE
9 October 2026 – The African National Congress (ANC) has condemned in the strongest possible terms the alleged social media remarks attributed to Sello Lemonka Gemba from Pampierstad in Northern Cape, who is purported to be an ANC supporter, in which he is alleged to have called for the rape and killing of March and March leader, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma. Gemba subsequently indicated that he stood by those remarks.
The ANC national spokesperson, Hlengiwe Bhengu said if accurately attributed to him, such utterances are vile, reprehensible and wholly incompatible with the values, traditions and political culture of the ANC. Bhengu said there can never be political, personal or ideological justification for incitement to rape, murder or any form of violence against another person.
“The ANC rejects any attempt by individuals to associate such conduct with our movement or to use purported support for the ANC as a shield for violent, misogynistic or criminal rhetoric. Whatever disagreements, disputes or differences may exist between Sello Lemonka Gemba and Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, these can never justify or excuse language that allegedly calls for her rape or killing.
“No disagreement gives anyone licence to threaten the life, bodily integrity or dignity of another person. Such alleged conduct is particularly reprehensible in a society confronting the persistent scourge of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF)and it must be rejected without qualification,” she said.
Bhengu further said the ANC calls upon the appropriate law-enforcement authorities to investigate these allegations without fear, favour or prejudice and where the evidence establishes criminal conduct, to act decisively in accordance with the law. She added that social media is not a lawless space, and freedom of expression cannot be distorted into a licence to threaten, intimidate or incite violence.
“Should it be established that the individual concerned is an ANC member, the organisation’s internal processes must equally take their course.
“The ANC distances itself unequivocally from the alleged remarks and calls upon all its members and supporters to uphold the values of human dignity, non-sexism, non-violence and respect for the rule of law,” said Bhengu.
Meanwhile, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) commissioner, Nomahlubi Khwinana said they condemn in the strongest terms a message allegedly posted on social media calling for the gang-rape of Ngobese-Zuma. Khwinana said South Africa is a constitutional democracy that guarantees freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
“The constitution encourages people to hold diverse political ideologies and beliefs within its bounds and under applicable legislation. Robust, uncomfortable, and even offensive speech is constitutionally protected.
“Threatening or calling for the rape of someone is a criminal offence and may constitute hate speech. Globally and in South Africa, women and non-binary activists and journalists are routinely
harassed and threatened with physical, sexual and other forms of violence,” she said.
Khwinana said this trend needs to stop. She said women and other vulnerable groups should be free to exercise their political rights and enjoy all fundamental rights.
“South Africa is globally recognised for having some of the highest rates of gender-based violence (GBV) and intimate partner violence. We live in a country where around 43 000 cases of rape are reported each year. The country has a femicide rate several times higher than the global average.
“The public messages allegedly made against Ngobese-Zuma demonstrate the brazenness of gendered violence. Social
media platforms are responsible for filtering the messages posted on their platforms and ensuring that they are not spaces that amplify hate speech and gendered violence.
“This is one of the central messages in the Commission’s recently published policy brief, Human Rights and Information Integrity in disinformation, platform accountability and democratic resilience in South Africa,” said Khwinana.
She said the commission calls on law enforcement agencies to immediately identify and apprehend the perpetrator, so he faces the full force of the law. Khwinana said the commission also calls on the executive to ensure that the prevention and combating of hate crimes and hate speech Act of 2023, a powerful deterrent against
such incidents, come into force promptly.
