Fransman denies R50 000 offer
WESTERN Cape ANC chairman, Marius Fransman, accused of sexual harassment following an incident in Kimberley, said he never offered the young woman R50 000 after she laid a complaint with the police.
“I categorically deny that there was anything related to that, and to try to get her to withdraw (the charges),” said Fransman.
He said he would respect the police investigation, and would not speak on the process which led to his being the subject of a criminal complaint.
He said there was a particular intent to tarnish his reputation.
While Fransman would not give much information about the complainant, a senior Western Cape ANC member said the 20-year-old woman left Cape Town with Fransman and two other men for the party’s birthday celebrations on January 5.
The ANC man said the young woman was known to one of the men who had been travelling with Fransman.
“The alleged incident happened in Kimberley on January 5, but she still continued driving with them, and only complained to the police on January 8,” the source said.
A Sunday newspaper disclosed information purporting to be from the docket which stated that the first incident of alleged sexual harassment occurred in the car on the way to the venue. The second incident allegedly occurred in a hotel room in Kimberley.
Top ANC officials sat yesterday to discuss the allegations against Fransman although no decision was made on whether to suspend him or not.
The party’s provincial spokesman Jabu Mfusi said yesterday’s meeting was the first official meeting for the year.
The sexual harassment allegations were on the agenda along with other issues including education and the ANC rally to take place on Saturday.
Mfusi said: “This is the first time we are meeting organisationally as officials to hear comrade Marius side as to what transpired during that period.”
He said the party’s top officials were not in the position to suspend Fransman. However, they were able to charge him.
“Top officials can’t do anything really, the only power they have is to charge a person. Only the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) and the full structure can take such a decision.”
The Western Cape PEC is still to set a date for a meeting to discuss the sexual harassment allegations.
After the woman had opened a criminal complaint with the police, the ANC Women’s League came out in support of her and said it would stand by the woman who had accused Fransman of sexual harassment.
Cape Town mayor and DA provincial leader Patricia de Lille went a step further and called for him to be immediately suspended.
“The ANC must act against its loose cannon or be seen to approve of his alleged sexual assault.
“The desperate fight in South Africa against the scourge of sexual and domestic abuse is tragically undermined when party political leaders face criminal charges for these exact crimes,” said De Lille.
The ANCWL added that it was confident the justice system will protect South Africa’s women from sexual harassment.
The league’s secretary general, Meogo Matuba, said: “The ANCWL has always been firm that it stands with the victim and would like to reiterate this message. Whilst the ANCWL supports and stands with the victim, it respects and has confidence in the justice system to protect the women of this country.
“We firmly believe in the principles of the freedom charter, which state that all shall be equal before the law; we should further allow a fair and just trial as no one is above the law. However, we acknowledge the constitutional rights of the alleged offender of being innocent until proven guilty,” Matuba concluded.