It’s unclear if criminal charges have been laid against suspended Community Safety MEC, Albert Fritz.

His suspension was announced by Premier Alan Winde last night, with no explanation.

Online publication, News24, reports that the suspension is linked to alleged sexual assault.

It says that it has spoken to four independent sources that have confirmed that there had been a pattern of young women being targeted in Fritz’s office.

Meanwhile, leader of the opposition in the provincial legislature, the ANC’s Cameron Dugmore says that the premier must give reasons for suspending Fritz.

The latter has since asked to step aside as leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the province, while attending to his suspension.

The party’s Western Cape chairperson, Jaco Londt says that the deputy leader, MEC Tertius Simmers will be acting leader in the interim.

He says that the DA views these allegations in a very serious light and the investigation must be allowed to run its course unhindered.