CoCT's donation to Palestine team a gimmick - Fransman

JOHANNESBURG - Western Cape political heavyweight, Marius Fransman, has described the City of Cape Town’s sponsorship of the Palestinian football club as nothing more than a gimmick.

Fransman, who launched a new party called the Movement for Political Change this week, criticised the city for painting over a mural of the Palestinian flag in Lavender Hill. 

He’s also slammed both the metro and the Western Cape government for not supporting national government’s case of genocide against Israel and accused the DA-led structures of stifling views on the ongoing Middle East conflict.

DA councillor Sammy Claassen quit the party this week to join Fransman’s MPC, claiming opinions on what’s unfolding in Gaza were being suppressed.

Fransman said the city shouldn’t be applauded for offering free use of the Athlone Stadium or its donation of R400,000 towards the looming Palestinian football matches.

"If the municipality gives a donation to any, whether it’s the minstrels or any local rugby club, they in any case give close to a R400,000 donation, so it’s a gimmick, a gimmick under the blood, the tears and the murder of innocent people in Gaza."