ANCYL passes the buck on who flung dung at venue
THE ANC and its Youth League in KwaZulu-Natal have condemned and distanced themselves from the “poo and stone-throwing” incidents that took place in KwaDukuza on Sunday.
Former minister Pravin Gordhan was supposed to speak at an event organised by a local civic organisation, but which had to be abandoned.
ANC Youth League (ANCYL) provincial secretary Thanduxolo Sabelo and ANC party provincial chairman Sihle Zikalala distanced themselves from the protest.
“We had nothing to do with that (disruption), we are not anarchists,” Sabelo said.
Zikalala said the ANC condemned what happened “in the strongest terms”.
“People have constitutional rights to meet and engage on issues affecting society,” said Zikalala.
He said he would get a proper briefing on what occurred at the Stanger Siva Sungum hall where the local Concerned Citizens Group had invited Gordhan as a guest speaker at its fund-raising dinner.
Zikalala said Gordhan had called at about 4pm on Sunday to inform him that he was going to address the event. Two men were seen throwing two buckets filled with faeces at the main entrance before they fled. They then fled. This was a short time before Gordhan’s arrival.
A large group of people, many wearing ANC and ANCYL attire, arrived in bakkies and gathered a few metres from the hall.
Police, private security guards and traffic police were present, but they did not intervene when protesters threw stones and later forced their way into the hall where the fund-raising dinner was being held.
Gordhan was whisked away by his bodyguards, but later returned to deliver part of his speech.
The event was abandoned when protesters stormed the hall.
Sabelo said the youth league should not be linked to the protesters.
“We did not know there was going to be a protest,” he said.
He added the youth league would not take action as the protest was not linked to them.
“The ANCYL has never commissioned anyone to go there. We cannot be embarrassed by something we know nothing about.”
ANCYL chairperson in KwaDukuza region Mfanafuthi Ngcobo condemned the poo-throwing incident.
ANC greater KwaDukuza region chairperson Ricardo Mthembu also condemned the poo attack, but blamed Gordhan for supporting a faction in the local community.
See Leader Page 8