Cape Town – Western Cape Premier Alan Winde’s office has reportedly confirmed that suspended Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz is facing sexual misconduct allegations.
According to IOL, the premier’s office confirmed on Sunday that the allegations against Fritz, related to sexual misconduct.
“The Premier has sought guidance from both our legal services unit and from Advocate Jennifer Williams, when she debriefed him this past Thursday. It has been confirmed to him that, provided he receives permission from all the complainants who brought their allegations to him in confidence, it will be possible to confirm the nature of their allegations in question. Late on Friday, the Premier received such permission,” the report quoted Winde’s Spokesperson, Odette Cason as saying.
He continued: “I can therefore confirm that the serious allegations against Minister Fritz relate to sexual misconduct.”
ALSO READ: Police open inquiry into allegations against Albert Fritz
Winde suspended Fritz on Sunday last week.
He, however, remained mum at the time about the nature of the “serious allegations”, only mentioning that they were brought to his attention last year on November 23.
Following consultations with the province’s legal services, Winde concluded on requesting an independent legal expert to investigate the misconduct allegations against Fritz.
On Wednesday, he then announced the appointment of Advocate Williams, who according to The Citizen was a former director of the Women’s Legal Centre and advocate at the Cape Bar, to investigate the Fritz case.
ALSO READ: Alan Winde appoints lawyer to probe allegations against Albert Fritz
Meanwhile, the Western Cape police have opened an inquiry into the allegations while still awaiting key pertinent documentation before a case is registered.
According to News24, this came after the African National Congress’s (ANC) Western Cape branch issued a letter to the provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile expressing its concern over the manner in which the province’s premier was handling the case.
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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
