The questions Fransman has to answer

Melanie Verwoerd

This week, with the tragic death of Gugu Zulu, I wanted to write about love and the wounds of loss. But then President Jacob Zuma came to Cape Town last Thursday. And there he was flanked by none other than Marius Fransman. When Zuma did his bodyguard-surrounded walkabout in Nelson Mandela Bay, Danny Jordaan was nowhere to be seen. But not Fransman. No, he was right there, next to his friend, the president, confirming what many have been saying in the ANC, that he is protected by Number One.

Before I go any further, I should declare that I have known Fransman for over 20 years. I have never socialised with him, but we have worked and canvassed together numerous times since pre-1994. I was saddened when I heard about the accusations of sexual harassment against him by Louisa Wynand and wanted to believe it was not true.