ANC boss stabbed as fists fly in branch meeting

An ANC branch meeting in Wells Estate turned violent on Sunday with members beaten up and a branch leader, Thandolwethu Gebengana, stabbed and assaulted.

Gebengana sustained two stab wounds in his back and he was also hit with a glass above his right eye.

The chaos broke out at a branch general meeting (BGM) at the Wells Estate Community Hall on Sunday afternoon where members were drawing up a nominations list for MPs and MPLs ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Gebengana was rushed to Dora Ngiza Hospital where he received multiple stitches. He opened a case at the Swartkops police station.

Gebengana alleged there was a group of young boys led by a woman, Mandisa Masiki, who entered the hall carrying knives, beer bottles and wooden planks.

Masiki is alleged to be part of a parallel branch structure in Ward 60.

Gebengana said: “They entered the hall just as we were busy with registration… Somehow they started hitting the older women who had arrived early at the hall.

“There’s nothing more hurtful than seeing a youth hitting an elderly woman.

“When I tried to intervene, they came for me and I was hit with a bottle or a glass and I must have blacked out for a bit but when I woke up, I was rushed to the hospital by the ward councillor [Mvuso Mbelekane]”.

Masiki confirmed there were two ANC branch executive structures in Ward 60. According to her, the rightful chairperson is Nomgqibelo Tyumbu. She denied there were any knives or bottles carried by the people she came with to the venue.

“They are lying and exaggerating. Why would people bring knives to a meeting?” said Masiki.

She added that it was, in fact, Gebengana who started the altercation.

Rachel Mgedesi, who identified herself as a branch member and secretary of the parallel branch structure, refuted allegations that Masiki was behind the violence.

Mgedesi said Gebengana’s supporters started the fight by throwing chairs at them.

“Masiki was not behind any violence. People were just fighting each other there. Anything else is lies,” said Mgedesi.

ANC regional secretary Themba Xathula condemned the behaviour of those involved, saying once they had been identified, disciplinary action would be instituted.

“This was very un-ANC. It’s ill-discipline because there’s no organisation such as the ANC that will tolerate such behaviour from its members.

“The provincial secretary [Lulama Ngcukayitobi] was firm that we must take those responsible to [appear before a] disciplinary committee and identify those bad elements,” he said.

Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said about 30 people entered the venue and allegedly assaulted the people inside. He confirmed a case of assault was being investigated.

“An arrest will be made soon,” Beetge said.