NDC confirms Marius Fransman’s suspension

The National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) of the African National Congress on Thursday confirmed its previous decision that Marius Fransman was guilty of misconduct and should be suspended from the party for five years.

Acting disciplinary committee chair Susan Shabangu said that by not attending an NDC hearing scheduled for Thursday‚ Fransman had denied himself a second opportunity to present his case and prove his innocence.

Fransman has widely protested his innocence since becoming embroiled in a scandal after he was accused of allegedly sexually assaulting a young woman who accompanied him to an ANC birthday celebration in January 2016. He was chairman of the party in the Western Cape at the time.

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“The NDC has further expressed its disappointment that Comrade Marius‚ as a senior leader‚ misled the public a few weeks ago that he was cleared by the ANC National Disciplinary Committee of Appeals (NDCA) whereas in truth the Appeal Committee made the point in its finding that the referral back to the NDC was being done on a point of procedure to protect the integrity of the ANC; not because of any procedural irregularity committed by the NDC or on a point of law raised by the charged member‚” the committee said in a statement.

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“In all the circumstances‚ the NDC was satisfied that Comrade Fransman was afforded a further opportunity of procedural fairness. He elected not to utilise it by not attending the scheduled hearing to present his evidence and that of his witness.”