Marius Fransman lives to fight another day as chairman of the ANC in the Western Cape after being accused of sexually assaulting an employee.
At a meeting with senior provincial party officials on Tuesday‚ Fransman fended off opposition calls for his suspension.
Deputy chairman Khaya Magaxa said Fransman had explained his version of events in response to a 20-year-old’s allegations that he assaulted her en route to the ANC’s 104th birthday celebration in Rustenburg at the weekend.
Magaxa declined to say what Fransman’s explanation was and said the matter was likely to be discussed later this week by the party’s provincial executive committee.
The ANC has denied that national executive committee members attempted to have the charges against Fransman withdrawn‚ or that a bribe was offered to the woman involved to make her drop the charges.
Patricia de Lille‚ the Western Cape DA leader‚ called earlier for Fransman’s suspension.
“When assault allegations against (ANC provincial secretary) Faiez Jacobs came out a few weeks ago‚ after a male ANC staff member was left with a bloodied face‚ the ANC suspended him right away.
“Yet when the victim is a woman‚ new to the ANC staff ranks‚ we see dithering and delays in suspending the accused leader‚ Marius Fransman‚” she said.
Fransman to remain in chairman position
Marius Fransman lives to fight another day as chairman of the ANC in the Western Cape after being accused of sexually assaulting an employee.
At a meeting with senior provincial party officials on Tuesday‚ Fransman fended off opposition calls for his suspension.
Deputy chairman Khaya Magaxa said Fransman had explained his version of events in response to a 20-year-old’s allegations that he assaulted her en route to the ANC’s 104th birthday celebration in Rustenburg at the weekend.
Magaxa declined to say what Fransman’s explanation was and said the matter was likely to be discussed later this week by the party’s provincial executive committee.
The ANC has denied that national executive committee members attempted to have the charges against Fransman withdrawn‚ or that a bribe was offered to the woman involved to make her drop the charges.
Patricia de Lille‚ the Western Cape DA leader‚ called earlier for Fransman’s suspension.
“When assault allegations against (ANC provincial secretary) Faiez Jacobs came out a few weeks ago‚ after a male ANC staff member was left with a bloodied face‚ the ANC suspended him right away.
“Yet when the victim is a woman‚ new to the ANC staff ranks‚ we see dithering and delays in suspending the accused leader‚ Marius Fransman‚” she said.