Cape Town – The sexual harassment charge brought against African National Congress (ANC) Western Cape leader Marius Fransman was dropped on Monday, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions has declined to prosecute on the basis of insufficient evidence,” said NPA spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku.
This related to the case which was opened against Fransman during the ANC’s 104th birthday celebrations in Rustenburg in January. According to the complainant – a 21-year-old female from Stellenbosch – Fransman, her employer at the time, had allegedly sexually harassed her while she accompanied him to the celebrations.
Following the allegation, Fransman stepped out of office pending the police and the party’s investigations.
The dropping of the charge comes one day after Fransman said to the Weekend Argus that he was confident he would retake the reigns of the embattled ANC in the Western Cape in time for the August 3 Local Government Elections.
The party will reportedly be making its own decision in the next few days as to whether Fransman will indeed officially return to his position as chairperson.
Previously, the party also reinstated of provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs who had been suspended pending an investigation into his alleged attack on a former ANC researcher, Wesley Seale.
As the party had not yet received an official confirmation that charges had been dropped, they were not yet ready to comment.
African News Agency