THE ANC said it was dismayed and deeply concerned about allegedly “inflammatory and defamatory” remarks made by the Congress of the People (Cope).

Cope youth leader Anele Mda reportedly told a Mthatha meeting on Friday that ANC president Jacob Zuma was “a rapist” and that if the ANC were re-elected under “President Zuma”, “rape would no longer be a criminal offence”.

ANC spokesperson Carl Niehaus said: “This is nothing but hate speech . It is also devoid of any respect for the law, and its most basic principle that everyone has the right to a fair trial.” — Sapa