ANC factions ‘clash’ in Rustenburg

Police intervene to stop ANC factions from coming to blows in Rustenburg. Picture: Molaole Montsho/ ANA

Police intervene to stop ANC factions from coming to blows in Rustenburg. Picture: Molaole Montsho/ ANA

Published Jan 4, 2016

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Rustenburg - Police fired smoke grenades to separate two ANC factions before they came to blows over a march against corruption in Rustenburg on Monday.

A group of ANC volunteers blocked another group of their own party members who were trying to march to the Rustenburg municipality, where they intended to protest against corruption.

The volunteers claimed the march was illegal and they felt it was their duty to block the march and “defend the municipality”.

“The police protected them instead of stopping them. We are here to stop them ourselves. They are not going to cross that street,” said one volunteer.

The two groups met at the corner of Oliver Tambo Drive and Steen Street, where they were separated by a cordon of police.

Bricks, bottles and stones were thrown over the cordon of police from both sides.

As a result the police fired stun grenades to separate the two groups.

One man from the volunteer group armed with a knobkerrie attacked a local radio journalist Bennet Monanyane of Mafisa FM while he was filing his story live.

“That man accused me of filing an incorrect report. He chased me and tried to take my cellphone,” said Monanyane.

The two then moved a street block away from each other, chanting, while a police helicopter monitored the situation from the sky.

Neither the North West provincial ANC nor the police were available for comment.

African News Agency

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