Pitched battles between different factions of the ANC in the Northern Cape delayed the start of the party’s provincial conference last week.

In one corner, ”members of the Hidden Hand” who moonlight as the ”demonic forces of the dark”. In the other, ”Mugabe and his evil warriors”.

Tensions ahead of the African National Congress’s provincial conference in the Northern Cape reached a new high on Friday.

President Thabo Mbeki’s team fought back after a first day of humiliation at the ANC’s 52nd national conference at Polokwane, holding an unprecedented rally at lunchtime. Jacob…