ANC, EFF blame each other for spat

Published Nov 4, 2013

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Johannesburg - A man sustained injuries to his foot and a passing car’s window was smashed as the ANC and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) clashed in Freedom Park, south of Joburg, on Sunday.

Several people were injured during the incident, with several seen limping and being treated after they were hit by flying rocks.

 

The ANC and EFF are now pointing fingers at each other, each claiming it had come under attack from the other.

The ANC said EFF members had beaten some people and pepper-sprayed others.

It began when the EFF and the ANC supporters ran into each other unexpectedly while campaigning in Freedom Park on Sunday morning, with a violent confrontation ensuing.

A man, who declined to give his name, said he was driving when he saw a group of people seemingly fighting.

“I tried to flee and did a U-turn when my car was hit, but I returned because I wanted to know why I was being attacked.

“But the comrades (ANC) said they would repair my windscreen,” he said.

By the time the two groups had separated, a crowd had gathered in front of the fire station, to where the injured ANC supporters were rushed.

Kevin Ntaopane lay on a stretcher, crying in pain, and mumbling that no one must touch his bandaged foot.

A fuming Sylvia Soka said EFF members pepper-sprayed Ntaopane, tripped him, and when he fell, hit him with the butt of a gun on his head and on the injured foot.

Soka said they were waiting for transport to take them to various areas to campaign when EFF supporters arrived.

“We were busy singing and waiting for the transport when they came closer to us and pepper-sprayed us. It means they were ready for an attack, hence they came with weapons, they wanted to catch us unawares,” the 55-year-old woman said.

A man, who declined to give his name but said he was a community leader, said some of the EFF members not only had pepper spray and other weapons, but guns too.

EFF provincial convener Mgcina Tshwaku said the ANC supporters were “lying through their teeth”.

He said they were campaigning peacefully when ANC members told them to leave the area as it was their ward.

Suddenly, the ANC supporters started hurling stones at them.

Tshwaku said a stone had hit an EFF member on the head, while another was beaten severely.

“They were beating us and also throwing stones, and they lied that we wanted to burn schools and clinics. The ANC ambushed us.

“They are lying through their teeth, we came to Freedom Park peacefully.”

The EFF said Lufuno Gogoro and its organiser for its Johannesburg Regional Command Team were attacked.

It said the same group, which it characterised as thugs had attacked and injured EFF members “in the very same ward”.

“We are calling on our fighters not to complain anymore, but to protect and defend themselves,” the EFF said later in a statement, promising to complain to the IEC and the provincial SAPS office.

Ntaopane was taken to hospital for further treatment.

Paramedics put bandages on the wounds of those who had been hit by stones.

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