By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Western Cape premier Alan Winde has announced that Albert Fritz has been fired from his cabinet with immediate effect following an independent investigation.
In a statement, Winde said he had informed Fritz of his immediate dismissal earlier on Tuesday morning.
“The investigation report was submitted to me on Sunday evening,” Winde said.
“I have considered the content, and a meeting with [advocate Jennifer Williams] and our own legal team took place yesterday (Monday) afternoon, where we discussed it and I sought further clarity.”
Winde said, having gone through this report carefully, it is clear to me that Mr Fritz is not a fit and proper person to hold any position in my executive council.
“He has therefore been removed, in line with the powers vested in me by the Constitution.”
Winde said the independent probe found “sufficient credibility” in the allegations of sexual misconduct and alcohol abuse.
“I am extremely angry at what appears to be verifiable incidences of serious sexual misconduct by him, in circumstances which in and of themselves were inappropriate,” Winde added.
The report also found that: “The individual complainants’ versions are consistent, inherently probable and corroborated in material aspects. While the individual stories differ, and this is a factor which mitigates against a conspiracy, there are common features to the versions of the identified complainants. They are also consistent with the evidence as a whole.”