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ANC Western Cape divisions exposed in contradictory statements on Fransman

ANC Western Cape divisions exposed in contradictory statements on Fransman

30th August 2016

By: News24Wire

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Raw divisions in the African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape were laid bare in a statement by the provincial executive committee (PEC) on Tuesday, distancing itself from an earlier call from within its ranks for the suspension of chairperson Marius Fransman.

"We want to distance ourselves as the ANC Western Cape from the statement written by both the provincial secretary, Comrade Faiez Jacobs, and Lionel Ardendof," said PEC chairperson Jabu Mfusi, in a follow-up statement.

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"They have written this statement factionally and bypassed the internal media protocol. This is contrary to the spirit of our discussions of emphasising unity and humbling ourselves.

"The ANC provincial secretary is supposed to be an embodiment of the unity of the ANC. He is supposed to have a high level of discipline, but Faiez Jacobs continue to divide the ANC.

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"We believe that Faiez is unfit to lead the ANC as a coherent force and a tool of our people to liberate themselves. Both Faiez Jacobs, and Lionel Ardendof have brought the good name of the ANC into disrepute," continued Mfusi.

Apologising to Fransman's family, Mfusi said spokesperson Yonelo Diko had been called a "functionary" and forced to issue the statement against his will.

'No charges against Fransman'

That statement, on Monday night, said the ANC wanted disciplinary procedures against Fransman to be expedited, and that he be suspended pending the outcome.

"The caretakers should recommend to the national executive committee (NEC) that Comrade Marius be suspended until the conclusion of the disciplinary processes," Jacobs's statement said.

Fransman had to step aside and keep a low profile after he was accused of sexually harassing 21-year-old Louisa Wynand. They were on their way to the party's January 8 celebrations in Rustenburg at the time. Fransman has denied the allegations, and there have been suggestions that he was set up, which Wynand, in turn, has denied.

The name of the Boland ANC secretary Jonton Snyman was put forward as being behind it. When News24 asked Snyman earlier this year, he said he did not know Wynand.

It is not the first time that these names have been linked to a scandal in the ANC. Snyman was accused last year of not declaring an insurance fraud case against him and Fransman, as chairperson, had said at the time that an investigation should go ahead, according to a report on Independent Online.

The same report said Adendorp had been accused of leaking a letter to the media that he had written to Jacobs, complaining about Fransman's conduct. Mfusi told News24 on Tuesday that it was not up to the ANC in the Western Cape to call for Fransman's suspension.

That was the responsibility of the National Working Committee, which recently received its report on the Fransman saga. Mfusi said Fransman was not suspended and was a "free man", with no official charges against him.

'I would like to apologise'

He had agreed to step aside when the Wynand accusations were made, and his deputy Khaya Magaxa was carrying out the functions of his office.

Mfusi also apologised to Fransman and his family for the statement.

"On behalf of the ANC Provincial Executive Committee, I would like to apologise to the ANC provincial chairperson, his wife, family and friends for the humiliation this unauthorised statement has caused," he said.

Fransman told News24 that he was sick of the lies about him, saying even this publication had incorrectly reported on his situation and whether or not he was suspended. Mfusi felt Monday's statement issued by the two was not in line with the spirit of the weekend meetings attended by senior leaders Derek Hanekom and ANC chairperson Baleka Mbete.

The two were also among guests on Saturday at Trafalgar High School in Cape Town, where the ANC commemorated the formation of the United Democratic Front, and called for unity and renewal from branch level.

Mfusi added that the PEC members had been warned, on pain of being disciplined, not to further harm the ANC on social media, and so had asked the disciplinary committee to investigate their conduct. Jacobs was not immediately available for comment.

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