Wally Mbhele
Lingering political tensions in the Free State from last year’s battle between its then premier, Patrick “Terror” Lekota, and his rivals were blamed for the recent chaos that erupted at the province’s women’s league conference.
Its proceedings came to a dramatic halt when the Free State African National Congress general secretary, Sello Dithebe, allegedly pointed a firearm at one of the delegates, Sarah Moleleki. Sources say Dithebe was insisting that a candidate for the elections for a new women’s league leadership be given a position on its executive, despite the fact that she had not won sufficient votes.
He allegedly drew his firearm when delegates supporting the losing candidate staged a walk-out from the conference.
Free State Premier Ivy Matsepe-Cassaburri, who was assisting in the elections, battled to bring the two factions together, sources said.
Tensions began to loom weeks before the conference. Dithebe, the mayor of Odendaalsrus, tried to prevent it from taking place in Parys. He is a close political ally of Lekota, and sources say he did not want the conference in Parys because the town was the stronghold of Lekota’s opponent, Ace Magashule.
ANC members who attended the meeting told the Mail & Guardian that Dithebe was not pleased that Magashule had helped conference organisers to secure the Parys venue.
Dithebe tabled a motion at a Free State ANC executive committee meeting, suggesting a change of venue and date for the conference. They supported the postponement, but would not change the venue.
Sources told the M&G the decision was not based on politics, but because the venue had been secured at a reasonably cheap price and it was difficult to find an alternative venue that would cost the same. “Dithebe then insisted on being mandated to be one of the electoral officers at the conference,” said a delegate.
Sources say the conference was sharply divided between pro-Lekota and pro- Magashule factions.
Dithebe was unavailable for comment, but police confirmed that charges of pointing a firearm have been laid against him.