Harsh words for naked protesters

HARSH disciplinary steps would be instituted against a group of women who stripped naked before storming the ANC Tshwane regional offices in Pretoria this week.

The ANC Women’s League national spokeswoman, Toxo Xasa, said the protesters would not be treated with kid gloves in order to prevent similar future occurrences. She described their behaviour as foreign, and a transgression aimed at undermining the ruling party.

“We have asked the provincial office to investigate those members. If they are found to be members of the ANCWL, we will take harsh disciplinary steps against them. We need to send a strong message to others that such behaviour will not be tolerated,” Xasa said yesterday.

The women were protesting against the outcome of a branch general meeting held in Hammanskraal on Sunday.

ANCWL secretary-general Meokgo Matuba also had some harsh words for the group of protesters. “The demonstration was in bad taste and displays a moral decay that emanates from foreign tendencies within the ANC such as factionalism and clique politics. The ANC has internal channels and procedures that could have been followed to lodge a dispute,” she said.

“We are disappointed by this behaviour. Members of the ANC should display discipline, lead society and not initiate acts of indecent exposure. Women must always carry themselves in an exemplary manner in society.”