The Tygerberg cluster Community Policing Forum (CPF) hailed Western Cape Premier Alan Winde for his decisive response to the scandal surrounding Albert Fritz, former provincial minister for community safety.
Fritz was fired from the provincial cabinet with immediate effect last week for allegations of sexual misconduct, alcohol abuse and grooming to enable sexual misconduct, which led to his suspension last month.
Adv Jennifer Williams was tasked to investigate the said allegations, of which a report was submitted to premier Alan Winde last Sunday evening. The independent investigation found that there is sufficient credibility in the allegations of sexual misconduct and alcohol abuse. Furthermore the report indicated sufficient evidence of Fritz creating an environment that is conducive to sexual harassment, or taking advantage of young women sexually.
“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,” Winde said in a statement to the media last week.
Chair of the Tygerberg CPF Sean McCleland says the cluster is thankful for Winde responding with such urgency.
“Our cause does not condone any form of gender-based violence towards any employee of a state department or any other institution or place of work. We await more information coming forth and look forward to justice prevailing,” he said.
Winde expressed his anger at what he said appeared to be verifiable incidences of serious sexual misconduct by Fritz.
“That it is by someone who has been tasked to protect our youth and our communities, is to me unfathomable. It is a shocking violation of his oath of office and the principles of our constitutional democracy,” said Winde.
“This is the starkest reminder of the pervasiveness of gender based violence at all levels of our society, and that every single one of us – from president, to premier, from CEO, to father, mother, brother, sister or friend – have a role to play to end it.”
Winde acknowledged the bravery of the complainants who came forward, saying they will be supported throughout the process and their confidentiality respected.
“It has not been easy for them, but through the example they are setting, they are empowering other women in our organisation and in society at large to do the same too. This is exactly what is needed if we are to fight against gender-based violence – every person must feel empowered to speak out about it, with the knowledge that they will be taken seriously when doing so, and that they will be safe and supported,” said Winde.
The allegations considered in the report were made by complainants and corroborated by two more. Williams interviewed 18 witnesses which includes the complainants who submitted photographs, emails, videos and text messages.
In her report Williams concluded the following: “The individual complainants’ versions are consistent, inherently probable and corroborated in material aspects.
“While the individual stories differ, and this is a factor which militates against a conspiracy, there are common features to the versions of the identified complainants. They are also consistent with the evidence as a whole. The evidence indicates a sustained culture of the sexual objectivation of women who work in the ministry, underpinned by an indisputable power imbalance.
“The power differential favours Mr Fritz due to his age, position of authority, political connections and gender. He appears to be oblivious to the power dynamics at play in his interactions with young female interns/staff.
“Further, the selection of ‘victims’, the building of trust, the normalising of inappropriate sexually-charged interactions in a work related context, the taking of photographs of the young women and complimenting them on their appearance, the sexual comments, the unpredictable temper outbursts, and public humiliation of the ‘victims’ all have the hallmark of grooming.
“Further, the availability of alcohol, the pressure to drink and removing young women from their comfort zone further enabled Mr Fritz’s opportunities for sexual misconduct. It would seem that rather than protecting vulnerable young women from that risk, they were purposely placed in these inappropriate situations and exploited.”
And, finally, “the version put forward by Mr Fritz fails to substantively address the specific allegations made and is inherently incongruent with the evidence as a whole.”
On being afforded an opportunity to respond Fritz denied all allegations.
Winde said he was deeply concerned that Fritz refused to accept any inappropriate conduct on his part and attempted to impugn the credibility of the complainants.
