Marius Fransman bounces back, accuser considers other legal options

Louisa Wynand, the young woman who accused Marius Fransman of sexually assaulting her on January 6, said she decided on Monday to reveal her identity because she believed that if she didn’t, those who support ANC Western Cape Leader Marius Fransman were bound to do so sooner or later.

“I wanted to pre-empt them and do this on my terms,” she told Daily Maverick.

She said she had also decided to go public to inspire other young women and children who are victims of sexual assault so that they could see that “it can happen to anyone”.

Wynand said news that the charges she had lodged against Fransman had been withdrawn “due to a lack of evidence” had left her feeling “not that great” but that she was approaching the Commission for Gender Equality with her legal team on Tuesday to pursue other avenues.

The young woman, to whom Fransman had offered a job as a personal assistant a day before the trip to the ANC’s 104^th anniversary celebrations in Rustenberg in January, was informed by North West Police on Thursday that the charges had been withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecution through a WhatsApp message.

“When I wrote back to them asking for more information they just never answered although I could see they had read the messages,” she said.

Fransman has in the meantime said his suspicions that he had been “set up” by political rivals had been proven correct. The 40-something father of two thanked all those who had prayed for and supported him as he faced the allegations. He is expected to return as leader of the ANC, the official opposition in the Western Cape legislature, this week.

What has remained unexplained though is why Fransman offered the young woman the job on the spur of the moment and whether he opted to share a bedroom with a woman young enough to be his daughter. Wynand maintains that this was indeed what occurred – “there is no doubt in my mind”. If true, it would suggest a serious lack of judgement on behalf of a high-profile political leader.

In an earlier statement by her lawyers to to the media, Wynand is quoted as saying:

“I am shocked and disappointed at the outcome of the investigation. My life has changed so much because of this incident and has affected not only me but my family and close friends. I‚ together with my legal team, am confident that I gave the police enough evidence relating to the charges I brought against Marius Fransman. I am confused as to why they say there is not enough evidence. But I will not take this lying down. I have met with my legal team to discuss my options. And I will exercise my rights. I plan to take a few steps this week of which I will inform the public.”

She added that the least police could have done was send her a letter confirming plans to drop the charges against Fransman.

“But to use WhatApp as a platform to send our client a message of progress after she approached them asking how the case is going is a little unprofessional considering the magnitude of this case and the seriousness of the charges,” said Wynand’s lawyers.

The return of Fransman to politics after being out in the cold for five months is bound to reactivate the deep divides in the ANC in the province. It will also serve as a gift to the ruling DA and challengers the EFF who are most certainly going to benefit from it on 3 August. DM

Photo: Louisa Wynand accused Marius Fransman of sexually assaulting her on January 6. 2016.