Zuma to address W Cape ANC’s problems

ANC Western Cape secretary Faiez Jacobs and ANC Western Cape chairman Marius Fransman. File picture: David Ritchie/Cape Argus

ANC Western Cape secretary Faiez Jacobs and ANC Western Cape chairman Marius Fransman. File picture: David Ritchie/Cape Argus

Published Feb 1, 2016

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Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma is set to read the riot act to the ANC’s embattled Western Cape executive committee on Monday, as ongoing leadership woes threatens stability in the province.

The party’s top six is in Cape Town to thrash out structural issues within the party – after the party’s national working committee cracked the whip on the top two ANC officials in the province.

The party’s provincial chairman Marius Fransman was directed to step aside pending the outcome of the police investigation into sexual harassment allegations levelled against him, and also resolved to suspend the party’s provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs pending his response to an assault charge laid against him.

Informed party insiders say the case against Jacobs could not proceed as “even before the charges were read to him, his representative raised a technical argument that the presenters leading the case against Jacobs were not properly appointed”.

In a post on Facebook, Seale said he would continue to have confidence in the processes of the ANC.

“The matter was struck down because of a technicality. The decision had nothing to do with the merits of the case. There is still a case to be answered.

“There is a case to be answered. If anything, I will continue to defend the rights of the accused in this matter. This serious matter demands a fair process with integrity…”

A ruling was made that the case could only proceed again if the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) fixes the problem relating to the appointment.

 

Arguments at the hearing were around the fact that Jacobs drafted the minutes in question and the inference could be drawn he manipulated the minutes.

“The DC ruled that the parties should go back to the PEC and get the correct details regarding the appointment of the representatives. The matter was struck from the roll. The DC can sit again, once the PEC has rectified the technicality,” the anonymous member added.

Jacobs was placed on precautionary suspension in December and went back to work last Tuesday after his suspension was set aside. But after a few days back in office, the party’s National Working Committee resolved to suspend him pending his response to the assault charges against him.

Jacobs had until close of business on Friday (48 hours) to argue why he should not be suspended.

His disciplinary hearing was set down for Saturday but failed to proceed after his representative argued a procedural technicality. With Fransman and Jacobs’s careers in limbo, the rest of the party leadership were either unavailable or reluctant to comment on the disciplinary hearing.

Fransman at the weekend said he will respect the decisions and processes of the ANC.

Jacobs also said he would respect the decisions of the ANC, but could not be reached for comment regarding his disciplinary hearing.

ANC deputy chairman Khaya Magaxa confirmed the disciplinary hearing was held on Saturday, but said they’ve not yet received a report back from the DC, and would likely only be informed about it on Monday.

Cape Argus

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