Wheels of justice start moving for Anton Fransch
THE National Prosecuting Authority says it met with law enforcement agencies yesterday to discuss the death of ANC activist Anton Fransch, killed 33 years ago during a shootout with the apartheid security police in Athlone.
Armed with a pistol and an AK-47, Fransch, aged 20, managed to hold off about 40 heavily armed apartheid security police for about seven hours before he died from what is believed to be a grenade.
His family has demanded an inquest to investigate his death, saying they don’t believe claims by the apartheid regime that he died of suicide.
This comes as an inquest into the death of Imam Abdullah Haron was last week heard at the Western Cape High Court.
NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the matter was receiving attention.
“Our team that deals with these cases contacted the brother of Anton Fransch last month to inform him that the case is receiving attention and that we will be meeting with other law enforcement agencies yesterday (Monday) to discuss the matter further.”
The mother of Fransch’s son Nathan, Nicky Asher-Pedro, said he was passionate about politics .
“He was a loving, kind and a unique young man. He loved music and singing. His passion for injustice made him fearless and he believed that justice would prevail. He was also stubborn and very militant with his best friend Gorrie Adiel November.
“I think all of us loved politics growing up, with Ashley Kriel as well. We sort of got involved in politics and we were eager to learn about what was happening.
“That was our purpose – we always wanted to understand the injustice that was happening around us,” she said.
Asher-Pedro said Fransch was brutally killed by the apartheid regime and he didn’t kill himself.
The ANC commemorated the life and legacy of Fransch on the weekend.
ANC MP, Faiez Jacobs, said they had been hopeful Fransch’s case would one day see the light.
“The case has been long-standing and we also see that there is promise now.
“The Imam Haron inquest gives promise that hopefully one day, Anton Fransch’s case will see the light. We want the truth and we share the same sentiments with the family,” said Jacobs.