Marius Fransman has been fired after a sex scandal that’s been dragging on for nearly a year.
The Western Cape ANC leader was klapped with a five-year suspension on Thursday, for abusing his office when he klopped aan by Louisa Wynand, 21.
Fransman has vowed to appeal the suspension from the ruling ANC, which effectively strips him of his title as chairperson in the province.
He was speaking to the Daily Voice just hours after the ANC’s National Disciplinary Committee announced their decision to suspend him.
The ANC had charged Fransman with two counts of misconduct: one for abusing his office for the purpose of attempting to obtain a sexual favour from Louisa; and second for making public statements which brought the party into disrepute.
The father of two is yet to be criminally charged for the alleged incident with the Stellenbosch singer in January this year.
The pair were travelling to the ANC’s 104th birthday celebrations in Rustenburg and stayed in a hotel in Kimberley where they shared a bed because she wasn’t booked in a room of her own.
She alleged that he put his arms around her and inappropriately touched her.
In a statement, the ANC says: “The NDC said that the charged member showed no political understanding of one of the fundamental objectives of the ANC, viz. the support for and advancement of women’s emancipation.”
It also accused him of lying.
“The charged member deliberately misled the public when he said that he did not receive documents to enable him to prepare for his disciplinary hearing, whereas in truth he was given all the relevant documents he needed to prepare his defence.”
The NDC added that Fransman did not attend the disciplinary hearing, and “showed no remorse for his conduct”.
Fransman claims there’s a faction in the party, led by Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe, who wants to get rid of him.
“It is sad that the whole NDC is being drawn into a factional agenda. I will appeal this decision, it is clear the NDC is only used against those who do not support Gwede’s agenda leading up to the elective conference,” he says.
“This whole DC was a kangaroo court, I made representations but they were not taken into account and so were the statements by the people who were on the trip.
“[Louisa] Wynand is a liar.”i
In a statement, Louisa says: “This is one small step on our road to victory. No woman in this country should go through the abuse I suffered. I am still picking up the pieces but I am stronger now more than ever.
“My energies are now focused on the criminal investigation that lay ahead.”
The Democratic Alliance’s Bonginkosi Madikizela says considering the “vast transgressions” by Fransman, a possible return after five years would be offensive to the politics of the province.