Luthuli House is pushing for Marius Fransman, the deputy international relations minister, to become the ANC Western Cape leader in the hope he could help wrest the province back from the Democratic Alliance (DA) in next year’s local government elections.
Fransman, part of the power bloc that ruled the Western Cape until last year, is being punted by the ANC leadership on the recommendation of Trevor Manuel, the minister in the presidency, according to a Luthuli House source. Manuel was charged with Âgetting the Western Cape ANC back on track.
”The executive was not contributing towards the performance of the ANC. Eighteen months later we have said we can’t have the same leadership,” deputy arts and culture minister, Joe Phaahla told the Mail & Guardian.
Phaahla and Manuel are members of the national executive committee team deployed to the province. ”It could change in terms of the mix of leadership. Otherwise what was the point?”
Boland conference delegates told the M&G that Skwatsha had significant support among coloured voters in the Boland because of his long experience in the post and because he is seen as being opposed to corruption. But a Luthuli House source said Fransman had credibility among coloured voters and had reportedly opened two ANC branches in Mitchells Plain, ”which is where the UDF [United Democratic Front] was born”.
But Fransman has been criticised for failing to prevent tender irregularities when he was Western Cape minister for transport and public works. He could also be investigated for his alleged role in the scandal over the payment of journalists to manipulate the news for political purposes, after he was implicated by disgraced journalist Ashley Smith.
Fransman has dismissed the allegations as ”smoke and mirrors”.
