Angry Fransman hits back at Hanekom

Marius Fransman. Picture: Chanelle Manuel

Marius Fransman. Picture: Chanelle Manuel

Published Sep 20, 2016

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Cape Town - Suspended ANC Western Cape chairperson Marius Fransman has slammed party national executive committee member Derek Hanekom for allegedly being at the forefront of efforts to remove him.

"Derek Hanekom must stop trying to impose a factional interest for his 2017 agenda," said Fransman.

He said Hanekom, chairperson of the ANC's national disciplinary committee, was among those in the ANC who agitated for the removal of President Jacob Zuma.

In response, Hanekom said Fransman was seemingly on "some sort of campaign".

"He's got lots of questions to answer, he should stop blaming other people for the actions he took," said Hanekom.

He had recused himself as chairperson of the ANC's national disciplinary committee, which will be chaired by Lindiwe Sisulu for the Fransman case.

Fransman insisted he had been prejudiced by the drawn-out disciplinary process against him over a complaint of sexual harassment by a 21-year-old Stellenbosch woman in January.

The ANC's integrity committee recommended that disciplinary charges be brought against Fransman. He was supposed to have appeared in front of the committee last week, but nothing came of the previously announced two-day sitting.

Fransman said his decision to quit the provincial legislature was due to infighting within the ANC. "If we've got a weak ANC, our governance will be weak. There's instability, and those who are attacking the country (politically).

"I don't support any kind of regime change by people inside of the ANC or outside of the ANC. I think it is short-sighted, opportunistic and wrong," said Fransman.

While he is the subject of a disciplinary investigation by the ANC's national disciplinary committee, Fransman said he remained steadfast behind the leadership of Zuma.

"He was elected democratically by a conference in 2012, and he was elected by Parliament (in 2014) and it is wrong for people to want, midstream, to push for regime change."

While calls have been made for Zuma to be removed, particularly after the Constitutional Court ruling in March which found the executive and National Assembly had failed to uphold the constitution, Fransman said it was a "different issue" from regime change.

"Some members are calling for regime change; it's not on. If you attack the president opportunistically, then we break down the very essence of our democracy."

He said he had never refused to appear before the provincial Standing Committee on Public Accounts despite the "DA spin" that he had gone to court to block his testifying under oath.

"The rules must be fair, it must be clear. There's no issue of appearing (in front of the committee), they wanted to summons us as if we were trying to avoid it (appearing)," said Fransman.

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@mtyala

Cape Times

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