Publications
Partners
Cape Town - African National Congress Western Cape leader Marius Fransman has said the report into alleged sexual harassment charges laid against him by his former assistant Louisa Wynand is "seriously flawed".
The Western Cape High Court ordered on Wednesday that Fransman receive a copy of the ANC integrity commission's report into his conduct, after filing papers against party secretary general Gwede Mantashe and the commission.
Fransman told News24 on Thursday in Cape Town that the charges against him regarding the incident are the result of a political plot against him.
"I've read the report," Fransman said.
"I won't speak details into the report but I will say that the report is seriously compromised, there are major flaws.
"In fact, that report should be declared invalid. Because I knew from the start that it's impossible I could have done anything like that."
A report by the Mail & Guardian on Friday said the party's integrity commission report was unanimous that he was "more likely guilty than not" of the alleged harassment.
Party lawyer Mfana Gwala said the ANC was drawing up disciplinary charges against Fransman as a result of the evidence, and that he should have waited for internal proceedings to conclude before going to court.
Fransman confirmed that he received the disciplinary charges, "for the first time" since the incident.
'There are people who want to take me out'
Fransman, however, believes "criminal elements" were behind the allegations, and had devised a strategy "to take him down" during his second term as provincial chairperson.
"I said two weeks after the incident that there are people trying to use an issue that didn't happen to incriminate me and take me out.
"There are those wishing I would be prosecuted, and using that process to take me out politically."
When asked who they were, and what their motives are, he said: "That Marius Fransman at all costs must not be the chairperson of the province."
Fransman said he knew of four individuals within the party's regional structures behind the alleged plot, and mentioned one by name, Jonathan Snyman, who he has accused previously, as reported by News24 in January and April.
He said he did not want to go into the reasons why he believes these individuals are plotting against him now, but would bring it up "one day".
'I've never been ill-disciplined'
Fransman on Thursday said he was dropping legal action against Mantashe and the Integrity Commission, saying he "never wanted to take the ANC to court".
"It's been a very disheartening period for me," Fransman continued.
"I'm an activist, I'm a member of the ANC, and I'm a leader. I've served the ANC in many positions since I was 26. I've never been ill-disciplined; I've never been accused of ill-discipline.
"I understand politics can be hard, and we must take the good with the not-so-good. But this was not politics," he claimed.
He also said he had accepted an invitation from certain religious leadership to submit to mediation with the party.
'I will not be bullied'
The embattled ANC leader had one final word, saying he wants to move on, but can't help but feel that he has been treated differently to other leaders in the party.
“I want to get over this hurdle. It's not right for confusion to prevail in society. I'm comfortable to meet with others in party structures, but don't coerce or push me, it doesn't work.
"I'm interested in how it happened that a leader for no reason other than a complaint at a police station could be pushed aside.
"If we must be fair, we must treat everyone equal, show me a leader in the ANC that when a complaint is registered, he's been asked to step aside.
"I'm concerned we are using ethics for one, but not ethics for another.
"But I will not be bullied."
Fransman will continue campaigning as ANC Western Cape leader in the province, he added, and now wants to focus on the elections.
WATCH:
- Find everything you need to know about the 2016 Local Government Elections at our News24 Elections site, including the latest news and detailed, interactive maps for how South Africa has voted over the past 3 elections, or download the app for iOS and Android.
