The African National Congress in the Western Cape is acting against branches and members involved in a series of violent scuffles at party meetings in Khayelitsha on Sunday.
As a first step, at least eight party members have been suspended and face further disciplinary action after a branch meeting in Ward 97, Khayelitsha, turned violent on Sunday.
Party members turned on each other, using bricks and chairs as weapons. Several gunshots were fired, but no one was hit.
Media reports say an unnamed councillor was seriously injured when he was struck by a brick in Ward 97. He was rushed to hospital. Others were also hurt in the melee.
The party’s provincial working committee (PWC) on Monday condemned the incident and said the provincial leadership will meet branches in Khayelitsha in the coming week to discuss the fracas.
”The ANC PWC met today to discuss events that took place in Khayelitsha yesterday during the branch general meetings held there. These meetings resulted in some unfortunate things, including assaults. We strongly condemn this intolerable and unacceptable behaviour,” the committee said in a statement released after its meeting.
The ANC is setting up ward branches in line with the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) guidelines for the coming elections.
It was at one of these meetings where the fight took place.
Task teams set up in five wards, including Ward 97, to drive the establishment of the branches were also disbanded.
The PWC said it had not expected in-fighting in the area to turn violent, although it had been aware for some time of some party members wilfully trying to disrupt the establishment of the branches.
”The PWC, in its meeting, viewed this in a serious light … It was therefore resolved by the PWC that drastic measures should be taken against the perpetrators. The PWC wants to express its disappointment and condemnation of this and agreed that the strongest possible action should be taken to ensure that something like this will not happen again.”
The committee will also investigate whether government vehicles were used in the disruptions.
Khayelitsha, of late, has been a hotbed of civil protest over perceptions of slow delivery of services and housing by the City of Cape Town.
Police spokesperson Captain Elliot Sinyangane could not immediately comment on the incident. — Sapa