ANC slams Fransman for ‘shameful conduct’

Suspended ANC Western Cape leader Marius Fransman accused secretary-general Gwede Mantashe of having a factional hand in his downfall. File picture: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Media

Suspended ANC Western Cape leader Marius Fransman accused secretary-general Gwede Mantashe of having a factional hand in his downfall. File picture: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Media

Published Nov 23, 2016

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Cape Town - The ANC in the Western Cape has slammed its suspended chairman, Marius Fransman, accusing him of “no longer respecting the ANC” and using the party’s secretary-general Gwede Mantashe as a punching bag.

Fransman has been stripped of his ANC membership for five years after the party found him guilty of abusing his office for trying to obtain a sexual favour from 21-year old Louisa Wynand and for making public statements bringing the ANC into disrepute. Wynand accused Fransman of sexual harassment while they were travelling to the ANC’s January 8 celebration in Rustenburg.

Cautioning Fransman, acting ANC provincial chairman Khaya Magaxa said “attacking organisational mechanisms and tools in public clearly suggest he is no longer respecting the ANC”. Magaxa ripped into Fransman, accusing him of using Mantashe as a punching bag “in order to convince factional lords of their loyalty”.

“We wish to caution him that his conduct is now aggravating his suspension from the organisation. We call on Fransman to exercise political maturity and desist from his shameful conduct which rubbishes the stature and credibility of the organisation,”

Fransman has been vocal in his criticism of Mantashe, accusing the leader of having a factional hand in his downfall.

“It seems now it is becoming a subculture among corrupt and reactionary elements that lack organisational discipline and class consciousness to use the ANC secretary-general as their punching bag,” said Magaxa. He added Fransman had to stop creating imaginary scapegoats and take responsibility for his actions.

Magaxa was particularly outraged about the recent sit-in staged by members of the Congress of South African Students at the ANC offices demanding Fransman’s reinstatement. Fransman, who earlier indicated he will be appealing his suspension, could not be reached for comment.

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Cape Argus

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