ANC provincial chairperson Marius Fransman’s troubles over sexual harassment allegations against him, and what action the party should take, are playing out as a back story to the succession race inside the party.
A member of the ANC’s provincial executive committee (PEC), speaking on condition of anonymity, said the sexual harassment allegations against Fransman should be resolved as soon as possible.
The ANC’s integrity committee forwarded the report of its investigation into Louisa Wynand’s allegation that Fransman had sexually harassed her to the party’s national working committee, which will decide whether disciplinary charges should be brought against him.
“This thing is about immorality. It’s about his personal conduct.
"He managed to make something personal political,” said the PEC member.
Fransman is taking legal advice on forcing ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe to release the integrity committee’s report, saying that he had been prejudiced.
In February, when the ANC’s provincial executive met the party’s national working committee following news of the scandal, Zuma apparently told the meeting there “was no PEC resolution” which ordered Fransman to take Wynand to Rustenburg.
According to another source, ANC officials in the Dullah Omar region had wanted Fransman returned to office over unhappiness about the candidates' list process, and hoped he would be able to intervene on their behalf.
“But now that the names of all the candidates have been submitted, there are some who want him back so that he can influence who gets what position in the councils where the ANC might get into governance,” said the source.
A supporter of Fransman said the actions against him were all related to the 2017 ANC conference.
“It’s got everything to do with 2017. People are already aligning themselves,” said the source.
Fransman refused to comment, saying he had left the matter in the hands of his lawyers. “I’m awaiting further instructions from my legal team and then I will comment.”
ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said: “We’re not making further comment on Marius Fransman because he has decided to take the ANC’s secretary-general to court.
"There’s no conspiracy theory (against him).”
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