Allegations Against ANC Leader Highlight Sexual Abuse

The ANC’s leader in the Western Cape, Marius Fransman, has been accused of sexually abusing a woman he had just hired as his personal assistant and then offered payment for her to keep quiet, according to news reports on Sunday.

News of the allegations were reported at the start of the weekend, just as the African National Congress was about to start its 104th birthday celebration in Rustenberg.

On Sunday, however, the City Press newspaper – citing various unnamed police and ANC sources – alleged that the woman was put under pressure, by certain members of the political party, to withdraw the case. Fransman told his alleged sexual assault victim to get over discomfort at his advances if she wanted a job, the paper said.

Fransman has apparently denied the allegations.

The incident took place in Kimberley, news reports said. The victim, who reportedly started her job in January, laid a charge in Rustenberg on Tuesday.

On Saturday, the ANC Women’s League reportedly said it would support the woman and it was monitoring the situation.

“The ANCWL has always been firm that it stands with the victim,” representative Toko Xasa said in a statement on Friday night.