The ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Tuesday confirmed the stepping aside of spokespersons Pule Mabe and acting spokesperson Zizi Kodwa pending investigations into allegations of sexual harassment and rape respectively.

In a press conference on Tuesday, ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule said that both Mabe and Kodwa had requested not to work as spokespersons for the ANC until they had cleared their names.

Mabe was meant to have been reinstated as the party’s spokesperson last week after he was found not guilty by an internal inquiry of sexual harassment. However, his former personal assistant who was allegedly harassed by Mabe expressed dissatisfaction at the way the inquiry was handled and its subsequent findings.

In a statement on Tuesday morning, Mabe said he was not aware that he had been removed as party spokesperson by the national working committee (NWC).

“I woke up to interesting and sensational media reports that quoted those who purport to be ANC NWC insiders who are said to have confirmed that I have been suspended as ANC national spokesperson.

“For the record, at the time of issuing this public statement, such a matter had not been brought to my attention. It is not in my nature to entertain slander and to borrow from the novel by the late renowned African writer, Chinua Achebe - “Things fall Apart” -  things indeed seem to be falling apart with what appears to be a complete disregard to one's right to dignity,” his statement read.

He continued: “Last year when allegations of sexual harassment were brought against me, I voluntarily, and on my own accord, took leave and restated at the time my position that I will never violate women in any form.

"I wish to reiterate that I respect, preserve and uphold the rights of women and have never sexually harassed anyone in my entire life."

Rape allegations against Kodwa emerged on Saturday after the ANC confirmed it received a letter from a 28-year-old woman making the claims that Kodwa raped her in April last year at a Sandton hotel.

According to reports, ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte, who received the letter, had advised the woman to open a case with the police. The woman had claimed in her letter that a date rape drug was used on her as she only regained consciousness after the alleged crime.