ANC, IFP blame each other for violence
THE IFP and ANC have blamed each other for a clash between their supporters in Vryheid that resulted in injuries and the arrest of eight people who are expected to appear in the local magistrate’s court today.
The clashes started on Thursday but escalated on Friday when ANC-aligned community members were marching to the offices of the Aba-Qulusi Municipality and those supporting the IFP were marching to the Vryheid Magistrate’s Court.
The municipality is run by an IFP-led coalition.
It was alleged that some supporters attacked one another with sticks, guns and stones.
A video of the clash between the supporters of the parties has been circulating on social media.
IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa claimed that his party’s supporters were marching in a matter involving three senior ANC officials from the municipality who are accused of corruption-related crimes and were “confronted by ANC supporters”.
“They caused huge damage to municipal infrastructure and private vehicles, burnt tyres and conducted all sorts of unbecoming and barbaric behaviour,” said Hlengwa.
“As far as we are concerned we are trying to defend ourselves from the advances of the ANC, which are undermining the democratic processes,” he said.
ANC regional secretary Zakhele Buthelezi said the party’s supporters had marched to the municipal offices to demand a response to a memorandum they had handed in two weeks ago demanding “services such as water, electricity and roads”. He said this was when the groups clashed.
ANC provincial spokesperson Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu in a statement blamed the IFP for preventing residents of Vryheid from marching for serving delivery.
“It is a great tragedy that people are prohibited from exercising their right to march, an even greater tragedy is that community members were attacked and seriously injured while fighting to receive basic services,” said Simelane-Zulu
Police spokesperson Thulani Zwane said three suspects who handed themselves over to the police on Saturday were facing charges including attempted murder and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
“A case of public violence was opened and five suspects arrested.
“Cases of attempted murder and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm were opened,” he said.
“One (person) was wounded and the other three were assaulted. The arrested suspects will appear on Monday (today) in the Vryheid Magistrate’s Court,” he said.
Police Minister Bheki Cele yesterday called on the IFP and ANC to meet and come up with a solution.
“Our intelligence officers will go there to monitor the situation, but police should do their job without favouring any political party,” said Cele’s spokesperson, Reneilwe Serero.
As far as we are concerned we are trying to defend ourselves from the advances of the ANC
Mkhuleko Hlengwa IFP spokesperson