Cape Times reports that senior Western Cape traffic chief Farrel Payne, who is accused of sexual harassment, appeared in the Cape Town Regional Court on Monday, where the matter was postponed to 27 July.

Payne remains out on bail of R5,000. He is accused of sexual assault, crimen injuria and an attempt to commit a sexual act. Following his arrest in October last year, after a female complainant had reported allegations in September, Payne was booked off on indefinite incapacity leave. Speaking last week, the woman said she felt robbed of her career and was too traumatised to return to work, where she feared bumping into Payne. Payne has remained in his position at the Department of Transport and Public Works pending an internal investigation. The final report of the investigation has been finanlised was received on 8 April, but the head of department has yet to make a ruling on the matter. Anti-GBV activist Alexis Serra slated the department for the manner in which the matter was being handled and added: “After two months of receiving no feedback, the victim had to hear all the new developments through a parliamentary plenary debate, which was live on national television. It seems that the department’s senior management are doing everything in their power to frustrate the victim and prolong the process, to keep Payne in his position.”

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Chevon Booysen at Cape Times

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