POLITICS

Legal action will not be continued – Marius Fransman

ANC Chairperson says he's saddened that he had to approach high court for withheld documentation

High Court outcome 

28 July 2016

I am most satisfied with the order of the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday, compelling the Secretary General, Comrade Gwede Mantashe, and the Integrity Commission, to immediately provide me with a copy of the IC Report, on the accusation against me reported to the commission.

I am saddened that I had to approach the high court to impel the Secretary General, the custodian of the proud ANC constitutional principles, to provide a critically important document withheld despite clear earlier written undertakings, and procedural dictate, to provide same.

The application was brought with great reluctance, and followed deliberated legal advice after all comradely options to protect my rights were exhausted. I never wanted to go to court, but I had no choice, and the receipt of the IC report justifies the action. I will now thoroughly study its content.

For considered reasons, my legal action will not be continued:

- The SG has demanded that I join the ANC as a respondent. I am a committed member of the ANC and regard it as my duty to enforce proper ANC procedure by the custodian comrades, even by legal action, as I have done, but I will not take the ANC to court.

- Since the SG and the IC have conceded by handing over the IC report; and since I have now for the first time since the July 11 NWC meeting have received formal notice of disciplinary action, having formerly had to rely on media reports only; and since I am in possession of the IC report, however probably compromised, my purpose is served.

- I have, together with other affected leadership, received an invitation from certain religious leadership, to submit to mediation. I accepted this initiative because of my deep respect for clergy, and because I wish to strengthen the ANC.

The ANC is the organisation that I love. We must now unite and consolidate and make sure that the ANC is enlivened by our actions and enthusiasm in the Western Cape.

I call on all activists, volunteer, members, and supporters to ensure that we liberate the Western Cape from the challenges of inequality and poverty.

Issued by Marius Fransman, Chairperson, ANC Western Cape, 28 July 2016