Ruling party’s members fight during launch of local branch
The source revealed that more than 10 members were intimidating, bossing and used vulgar words as they wanted the branch to be led by their close allies and friends.
GA MAKOFANE – What was supposed to be a peaceful, democratic event turned ugly when a fight broke out between two ANC members at the launching of Matakaneng branch in Ward 21. Tubatse police officials had to be called to restore peace.
The party’s sub-regional secretary in Tubatse, Mr Isaac Mamogale, was allegedly involved in a scuffle with another member, Mr Kholofelo Masegare, on June 14.
The ANC was at the village to elect the leaders of the new branch and to officially launch it.
“I don’t know what I did wrong, I doubt I was the unlucky one. I was approached by Mamogale who was unruly after he fell off a table and was bleeding. He attacked me after he fell. I was later shocked when I was told he opened an assault case against me,” Masegare alleged.
Another reliable source revealed Mamogale was seen sprawled on the floor after falling off a table. Some of the ward 21 members did not want the launch to take place as there were many ANC members from the Sekhukhune region who were interfering and intimidating them.
The source revealed that more than 10 members were intimidating, bossing and used vulgar words as they wanted the branch to be led by their close allies and friends.
“As the party, we are accustomed to the Sekhukhune region branch deploying one person who oversees the launching and ensures fairness in the electing process of the leaders in the wards, but surprisingly there was a squad of members wanted to intervene and intimidate in the election processes,” our source revealed.
“We cannot allow the mother body to elect for us, we have to democratically vote for our leadership and not let the big wigs tell us who to elect,” the source added.
The source said the only member who was deployed to oversee the launch was Mr Samson Nkosi, Greater Tubatse Municipality’s chief whip, yet there were many others.
Meanwhile several attendees of the conference questioned Mamogale’s decision to lay a criminal case against the young Masegare.
“The party normally discuss their squabbles indoors, we are just surprised that this matter will now be handled by courts, this brings the party in disrepute,” they said.
Steelburger/Lydenburg News contacted Mamogale for a comment. He said he accompanied the deployers in order to ensure the smooth running of the process.
” I never fell off the table, my leg was held by Masegare for more than three minutes. When he let go of my feet he then hit me with an object.”
Mamogale said.
“We had to call the police as these youngsters were unruly and did not want the conference to take place. I have forgiven Masegare as I saw that he was used by other members of the party to act against us,” he added.
Mamogale said he reported the case because of the severity of his injuries. “This was an absolute criminal case, there was no way it was not going to be reported. Again, we had to call the police to ensure the conference was finalised.”
Mamogale said he would wait for the party’s leadership to decide on the matter.
