Cape Town - Embattled leader of the African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape, Marius Fransman, is “relieved” that the high court in Cape Town has ordered the ANC to hand over an internal integrity commission report by noon on Wednesday.
Ashley Meyer, acting for Fransman, told journalists on the steps of the Western Cape High Court that the ANC must also file their opposing papers by 12 o’clock.
He said “the remainder of the relief pertaining to the re-instatement will be fully ventilated on Friday”.
Fransman, who has been accused of sexually harassing 21-year-old Louisa Wynand while they were travelling to Rustenburg in January, was suspended pending a disciplinary enquiry.
But there has been confusion around his re-instatement after he last week publicly campaigned with President Jacob Zuma in the run up to the local government elections on August 3.
Fransman, in a statement on Monday, said he wanted his “constitutional rights to fair procedure” upheld.
Meyer said his client, who was not at court on Wednesday, was “relieved that the integrity report is now finally being made available to him”.
“Gwede Mantashe (the ANC’s secretary-general) was furnished with a copy of the report. It’s unfortunate that Marius had to come to court to get relief that he is entitled to in terms of the integrity committee. But, Mr Fransman is very happy that he will now see the contents of the integrity committee report. There’s been a lot of speculation about the content thereof so we are looking forward to seeing it.”
On Friday, Fransman will seek a declaratory order from the Western Cape High Court confirming his position as provincial head of the ANC in the Western Cape.
“We will contend that Fransman is still the legitimate chairperson and has not been removed. Any attempts to sideline him and prevent him from going on the campaign trail as the elected leader of the ANC in the Western Cape, our contention is that is in contravention of the constitution of the ANC and on that basis we want the court to make a declaratory order that the actions of Mr Mantashe the SG is in contravention of the ANC,” Meyer said.
On Monday, Mantashe said Fransman had not been re-instated and said leaders who had claimed he was back had been ill-disciplined when they spoke out on the matter.
African News Agency