Cape Town - While the ANC is racing to stabilise their Cape leadership amidst claims of sexual harassment and assault, opposition parties couldn’t be happier.
The EFF and DA say the ruling party’s leadership crisis in the Western Cape is an advantage to them ahead of local government elections this year.
On Monday, it was announced that other senior ANC leaders will act as caretakers of the party in the Western Cape, after Provincial Secretary Faiez Jacobs has been suspended, and Chairperson Marius Fransman has been asked to take leave.
Fransman is accused of sexually harassing a 20-year-old woman who travelled with him to the ANC’s birthday celebrations last month, and Jacobs is accused of psychically assaulting an ANC researcher in December last year.
Democratic Alliance Western Cape leader Patricia de Lille said: “Sending in Luthuli House caretakers to replace the Western Cape ANC Chairperson and the Secretary while they are suspended is an acknowledgement by Luthuli House that the ANC in the Western Cape is in disarray.”
De Lille previously told the Daily Voice that Fransman is a “DA asset”, following headlines around the pending sexual harassment case.
DA Chief Whip Mark Wiley has now also raised the alarm that there are attempts to sweep the charges against Fransman under the mat.
He said police still can’t provide a case number for the investigation into Fransman.
“Despite repeated enquiries to at least six senior officers in two provinces [North West and Northern Cape] the Registrar cannot get confirmation on an investigating officer, a docket number nor a case number,” said Wiley.
“All of these aspects are requirements for a successful investigation.
“ The inquiries were made to one Major General [an acting Provincial Commissioner], two Brigadiers and three Colonels [mostly communications officers] among others.”
Meanwhile, the EFF say the Fransman and Jacobs matters could see an exodus of ANC members to the Economic Freedom Fighters.
EFF Provincial Chairperson Bernard Joseph said: “They [the ANC] are playing into our hands as the EFF and making it easier.
“There are ANC members from one municipality who are very upset with what’s happened and have already made contact with us.”
The ANC maintains it is still a political force to be reckoned with in the Western Cape, and Cosatu’s Tony Ehrenreich agrees with the alliance partner.
“We’re glad that national leaders are intervening to bring stability to the provincial structures,” said Ehrenreich.
“This doesn’t draw on the innocence or guilt of any of the persons involved, but we are glad they [National ANC] have taken this step.”
Daily Voice