Sexual harassment allegations just 'nonsense' - Fransman

Cape Town – African National Congress Western Cape leader Marius Fransman is adamant that the allegations of sexual harassment against him are nonsense.

Speaking at a press conference in Cape Town on Saturday, Fransman said he had nothing to hide and was co-operating fully with the police investigation.

He blamed the accusation on “unknown individuals” who were set on destroying the party, and said there was more to come.

“It’s all nonsense. The bottom line is the detail will come out,” he said.

Fransman said there was immediate consultation with the police on his side as soon as the allegations came to light.

“I’ve said I’m here and available for any questions on the things.”

Fransman said the accusations against him were a multi prong attack, with the major one being in the court of public opinion.

“I can confidently say I know what is behind it. And it does speak to particular individuals, and that will come out as time goes on. I have no illusion that there is more than the eye can see. As this one has failed, there will be another one and another attempt,” he said.

He would not elaborate on the “plot”. 

The party on Friday resolved to keep Fransman on as leader, despite the allegations of sexual harassment laid against him.

Provincial deputy chairperson Khaya Magaxa said they could not just charge a person “willy nilly” without having a formal complaint laid against him in the party.

He said the party had resolved to place secretary Faiez Jacobs on precautionary suspension in December following assault charges because an employee had laid an internal and criminal complaint against him.

In the case of Fransman, he said, no formal complaint had been laid with the party.

He said the complainant was not an employee of the organisation as widely reported, as none of them except Jacobs had a personal assistant.

If she had been a member of staff, Magaxa said, she would have been encouraged to lay a formal complaint against Fransman. 

“If there was a promise of a job somewhere else, maybe at his [Fransman’s] house or a spaza shop, we don’t know. But she does not work here.”

The party has in the meantime referred the matter to the integrity commission within the ANC.

This article first appeared on News24 – see here.