Opportunists behind protest: ANC
The ANC Tshwane region said some of the protesters were neither party members nor from the ward.
The ANC has accused people protesting outside the Atteridgeville home of Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa’s parents at the weekend of seeking to create chaos.
ANC Tshwane regional spokesperson Teboho Joala said the protest was not official.
“We cannot exactly say what their [protesters] grievances were but the so-called organisers were unhappy about [the] outcome of nomination of candidates for the upcoming elections during a branch general meeting at a local school.”
Joala said while some of the protesters were card-carrying members of the ANC, they did not belong to the branch.
“Some of them are not even ANC members but were opportunists that wanted to create chaos and score cheap political points.”
The protesters accused Tshwane ANC leaders of imposing candidates on party members to contest the upcoming local government elections.
A ward member said branch members traded blows when the faction aligned to Ramokgopa allegedly removed candidates from the list and replaced them with people not elected by the community.
Police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, who threatened to burn down the mayor’s parents’ home if Ramokgopa did not address them on Sunday.
Joala said the Tshwane ANC leadership would meet later on Monday, to discuss the weekend events.
“Until we get to the root of the matter, we urge aggrieved party members to follow the proper internal complaints channels,” he said.
“Their issues will be given the attention they deserve. This is also a clarion call to our members in that ward and to desist from such behaviour but adhere to strict discipline.”
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram.
- We have exciting news! We’re offering a free alert to help you always be in the loop. Send an email with the word ‘Subscribe’ to breakingnews@rekord.co.za to receive your free daily breaking news update.
