Fransman under fire at Cosatu rally

Marius Fransman. File picture: Yazeed Kamaldien/Weekend Argus

Marius Fransman. File picture: Yazeed Kamaldien/Weekend Argus

Published May 2, 2016

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Cape Town - Tourism Minister and ANC national executive committee member Derek Hanekom used a Cosatu Workers Day rally to slam the party’s under-fire provincial chairperson, Marius Fransman.

Fransman was asked to “step aside” in February by the ANC over allegations and a criminal complaint that he had sexually harassed a 21-year-old Stellenbosch woman while they were travelling to the party’s birthday celebrations in Rustenburg in early January.

In his speech, Hanekom, who is also chairperson of the ANC’s national disciplinary committee, called for the unity of the tripartite alliance and said ill-discipline should not be tolerated.

In a veiled reference to Fransman, he said: “We cannot have sexual harassment (in our movement), we must deal with it.”

Hanekom’s address was delivered to fewer than 400 Cosatu supporters, many of whom came with their children, at Cape Town Stadium.

Cosatu officials were visibly disappointed at the low turn-out, with one ANC member blaming it on a myriad factors.

Also in attendance at the stadium were the ANC’s provincial secretary, Faiez Jacobs, and his Cosatu counterpart ,Tony Ehrenreich.

Hanekom, referring to the small crowd, said the tripartite alliance was not doing justice to the “important day”.

“Next year we will make it a big event,” said Hanekom.

Cosatu provincial chairperson Motlatsi Tsubane said workers were still waging battles this year, demanding that government’s delayed Tax Administration Amendment Act be scrapped instead of being put on hold for two years.

Communications Workers Union president Clyde Melvin used the platform to attack the Guptas, who have close business ties with the family of President Jacob Zuma.

“Our members are ill-treated by the Guptas. They don’t know when payday is. Even if the Guptas leave South Africa, we’ll implore other businesses to take over The New Age and ANN7.”

Cape Times

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