ANC confident of victory in the Western Cape

Mbasa Gqokoma

13 July 2016

The ANC in the Western Cape say it is confident of victory in the upcoming local government elections.

That's despite problems involving the party’s provincial chairperson, Marius Fransman.

Fransman is currently facing the chop, that's if the recommendations of the party's integrity commission are implemented.

The commission wants Fransman to immediately abandon all politically-held positions.

He was charged with sexual harassment after a woman alleged that he sexually violated her.

Meanwhile UDM president Bantu Holomisa has urged his party to take advantage of infighting within the ruling ANC and use it to wrest control of Mbhashe municipality on August 3.

The former Transkei homeland ruler was speaking at an event to welcome several defectors from COPE in the area.

In a blow to COPE’s ambitions, four of its election candidates were officially welcomed into the UDM’s fold by Holomisa in the Dutywa Town Hall yesterday.

Among the defectors was long-serving and vocal Mbhashe councillor Nkosi- nathi Ndlodaka.

A number of COPE party members followed their leaders and cut ties with the party but it is not yet clear just how many former COPE members have joined the UDM.