Mabuyane lambasts unruly ANC members after chaotic meeting
Cops escort official from hall as crowd turns threatening
THE ANC provincial executive committee has been left shocked by the hostile behaviour displayed at its regional office at the weekend, which saw a national executive committee member being escorted out by the police.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said in a statement that the protests at the Florence Matomela building on Saturday morning had been well orchestrated by a group of people claiming to be ANC members.
He said the group aimed to disrupt the appeal process of branches on the outcomes of the branch general meeting in the Bay.
ANC NEC member Mcebisi Skwatsha was meant to chair Saturday’s meeting.
However, an hour after he arrived police were called in to escort Skwatsha out of the building after ANC members allegedly threatened him.
Mabuyane said: “This makes the mockery of the right to protest and diminishes the stature of grievance and genuine issues that may be raised. If there are any members of the ANC involved in such action, they must desist from this behaviour or face investigation and disciplinary action.
“This emerging tendency and practice among certain ANC members, across the country, to resort to violent protests, disruption of ANC meetings … to challenge organisational decisions and processes is destroying the organisation.”
Ward 22 member Nkosana Mati, who attended the meeting, said some of those present disagreed with Skwatsha’s decision and approached him at the meeting.
“Skwatsha was not at risk, we were just protesting with our mouths; we didn’t have stones and guns. I am not even sure why the police were called to the scene because we were never going to hurt him,” Mati said.
Police spokeswoman Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said: “The police were called by ANC members and asked to escort him [Skwatsha] out of the building and safely back to his hotel.”
Speaking at Umzi waseTopiya Church in New Brighton, Mabuyane again condemned the incident.
“It was caused by the people who are turning the ANC into a movement of gangsters,” he said.
“No amount of intimidation will stop ANC from doing its work in a proper manner.”
He said the ANC was not a terrorist group but an organisation for all people of the country.
“We must refrain from dragging the ANC through the mud because even churches will stop inviting us to these platforms.”
Mabuyane called on delegates stand up and defend the ANC.
He said the “train” was the ANC and not the individual.
“You are the ANC and you must stand up because it is future of the people of this country.
He also criticised people worshipping to ANC members.
“When you are elected to lead in the ANC you are elected to be a servant of the people, people shouldn’t be worshipping you.”
He called on congregants to pray for the ANC.
“The ANC has a huge responsibility and many challenges with the upcoming [Eastern Cape] elective conference, pray for the organisation and not just the leaders but for the ANC to elect leaders that are equal to the task.”
Mabuyane was invited church as a guest speaker. to the