‘Malema’s guards opened fire with rubber bullets’
Police probing 10 criminal cases after EFF conference fiasco
AGROUP of EFF members said yesterday that a person was shot with rubber bullets after they were barred from participating in the party’s Gauteng provincial conference at the weekend.
This as police said yesterday they were investigating 10 criminal cases after violence erupted at the party’s provincial conference in Kimberley at the weekend.
“Some of us were denied access even though we were nominated by our branches as delegates,” Lufuno Gogoro, from the EFF’s branch in ward 24 in Joburg, said yesterday.
“Eventually there was chaos. EFF leader Julius Malema hired private security guards and shot rubber bullets at EFF members, and one person was injured.” He said the police were called.
Police confirmed that they were investigating cases of assault, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, malicious damage to property and discharging a firearm in a municipal area.
The chaos erupted on Sunday afternoon during the EFF’s provincial conference at the Savoy Hotel in Kimberley as members armed with bricks, machetes and pangas tore into each other, trashing the venue and leaving a trail of blood.
The party’s Northern Cape leader, Aubrey Baartman, said the conference was going ahead as planned, and he was seeking direction from the national office.
The provincial conference got out of hand after a split in the nomination of candidates for leadership positions.
Baartman, the incumbent leader, is going head to head with Ronald Februarie for the position of provincial chairman.
Baartman said yesterday he had already spoken to the national leadership on what steps to take next.
“I am just sorting out a venue where the conference will be held. The conference will take place in the next 14 days,” he added.
Baartman said he had drafted a report regarding the weekend’s events.
“Some members were acting like gangsters, running around with stones and weapons, and serious action should be taken against them,” he stated.
Baartman added that he had not been aware that Februarie would be contesting his position as provincial leader.
“We had a list of nominees we wanted to nominate during the elections.
“Ronald and his supporters had their list of nominees,” Baartman said.
He denied allegations that he had bought votes from members for R10 000.
Baartman added that although he was not assaulted himself, he intended opening a complaint against conference member Danisile Seko for discharging a firearm.
“Danisile discharged a firearm into the air at the parking area of the New Park shopping complex.”
Baartman said he had already made arrangements with the Savoy Hotel regarding the damage caused to the premises. He said Februarie and EFF co-ordinator Mabatho Makause must take the fall for the behaviour of disgruntled members.
Februarie said yesterday he had opened charges against two people in Baartman’s camp after they had allegedly assaulted him inside the conference venue.
The Savoy Hotel declined to comment.
The EFF’s Gauteng people’s assembly was held in Meyerton, Midvaal. Provincial leadership was elected at the conference.
Gogoro is among a group of EFF members calling themselves defenders of the EFF constitution that had planned to approach the High Court in Joburg on Friday for an urgent interdict against Malema and the EFF’s leadership.
It wanted a stop put to the party’s provincial conferences and its national people’s assembly, which is expected to be held next month.
Gogoro also wanted the court to verify his party membership, claiming Malema had announced his expulsion without informing him of the reason.
On Friday, he said the group withdrew their court application after Malema’s lawyers produced an agreement that Gogoro be allowed to attend the people’s assembly and to stand for the post of provincial chair.
Yesterday, Gogoro said the group would reinstate their court action against the EFF.
EFF national spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said the party was disappointment at the collapse of its Northern Cape conference.
“Those responsible for violence against members and damage to property will be dealt with harshly,” he said.