Mantashe berates Fransman

SUSPENDED ANC Western Cape leader Marius Fransman is ready to go sell icecream‚ but only if the party’s secretary-general Gwede Mantashe will stop the organisation from sinking.

A row between the two erupted on Thursday after Fransman publicly attacked Mantashe on his handling of Andile Lungisa’s election as chairman of the Nelson Mandela Bay ANC region.

Mantashe had accused Lungisa of flouting the party’s constitution when he stood for election on a lower structure – while still a member of the provincial executive committee – and subsequently won the vote.

But Mantashe hit back during an interview with eNCA the same night‚ saying: “Anybody who is trying to make everybody happy in a populist way should not be a leader – that person must sell icecream”.

Fransman responded yesterday morning‚ saying he would take up the challenge.

He said he would start an initiative to help reduce poverty and unemployment by identifying 50 people for a skills development programme.

“[I will] make them some of the best ice-cream sellers in South Africa.

“I therefore challenge you comrade Mantashe to stop bullying activists on the ground.” — TMG