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News24 reports that Western Cape Premier Alan Winde says his government fully supports any inquiry by police into the sexual assault allegations levelled against suspended Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz.
On Thursday, Western Cape police announced they had opened an inquiry. However, no criminal case has as yet been opened against Fritz as the police are waiting for "pertinent" documentation, specifically statements from the alleged victims. Winde is expected to meet with Jennifer Williams, an independent advocate, who has been appointed through the State Attorney to conduct an external investigation into the veracity of the allegations made against Fritz. "I will also provide her with the details around the actions, steps I have taken to date. This information should then enable her to begin her investigation immediately,” Winde indicated. He went on to say: "In addition to advising the complainants of their rights to lay criminal charges, we are also referring complainants to an NGO dedicated to the assistance of complainants of the nature in question, having received confirmation from such NGO that such a referral would be appropriate and may proceed.” Fritz, his spokesperson, Wade Seale, the head of the community safety ministry, David Abrahams, support officer Michael Kwaaiman and another official, Lazola Ndubela, have been suspended, pending the investigation. Apparently the complainants – most of whom are interns in Fritz's office and others involved in the Expanded Public Works Programme – implicated several colleagues who work in the ministry in alleged acts of grooming and of intoxicating victims before they were allegedly sexually abused.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jason Felix at News24
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