Pretoria - African National Congress (ANC) members in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria, had one message for senior party officials who arrived for a meeting with disgruntled residents – “No Sputla, no vote”.
Residents repeatedly chanted the phrase as outgoing Mayor and ANC regional chairperson Kgosientso “Sputla” Ramokgopa addressed them in a packed community hall.
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“We have heard that things are not well at this home. I beg you humbly, please open up the streets and allow taxis to move again,” Ramokgopa pleaded as he addressed the agitated group.
“Your lives have to continue. Please allow those who go to work to do so peacefully.”
The crowd interrupted several times, chanting “no Sputla no vote”.
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They booed when Ramokgopa asked them to accept and support the ANC mayoral candidate for Tshwane, former minister Thoko Didiza.
“We don’t want to see her here. Take her back,” shouted one woman.
Ramokgopa finished his speech but the crowd remained adamant that they did not want Didiza.
The outgoing mayor was given a hero’s welcome when he arrived for the meeting flanked by ANC Gauteng provincial chairperson Paul Mashatile and national executive committee member and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.
Gauteng Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane was booed when she attempted to address the crowd. She then asked all journalists to leave.
There was a heavy police presence inside the venue, with officers wielding shotguns standing between the ANC officials and the community members.
Violence has rocked Pretoria since Sunday, as news filtered in indicating that Didiza, would be named as the city’s mayoral candidate for the ANC in the August 3 polls, replacing Ramokgopa.
Residents said they were not happy with Didiza and wanted Ramokgopa to remain in his position.
On Tuesday, huge boulders were placed on the usually busy WF Nkomo Street, leading into Atteridgeville. A delivery truck had been torched.
Hours earlier, a large police contingent, including members of the tactical response team, went into Atteridgeville, and unblocked the numerous roads littered with rubble and rubbish.
On Monday, three metro police officers had to run for their lives when they were attacked by the protesters.
Ramokgopa and his provincial ANC deputy chairperson Mapiti Matsena distanced themselves from the protests on Monday and condemned the violence. They called on residents to accept the mayoral candidacy and rally behind Didiza.
The ANC called for calm on Monday, with secretary Gwede Mantashe telling radio station PowerFM that the protests were “acts of thuggery” and that the protesters were not members of the governing party.
ANA