Durban - Opposition party delegates attended the sitting of the Youth Parliament in Greytown on Wednesday after the provincial legislature speaker, Lydia Johnson, assured them they would be safe.
DA provincial leader, Zwakele Mncwango, said he called party representatives to attend the event after a telephone conversation with Johnson, and a letter sent to her.
IFP MPL Blessed Gwala, said he also encouraged his party representatives to attend the event after a meeting with Johnson, who promised to “do her best” to ensure there would be no violence.
“She agreed on having more police, and not MK Veterans, and to bar liquor and drunk people from accessing the venue,” Gwala said.
This was after a government-organised Youth Day event on Tuesday ended in mayhem with ANC members pelting opposition parties with tin cans and other objects when they criticised the ANCYL speaker for speaking too long.
“Our delegates were injured and one of them had to be taken to hospital for head injuries. Case number 38/06/2015 for assault was registered with the police,” Mncwango said.
“We planned not to be part of this event, but after receiving assurance from the speaker, Lydia Johnson, I called our representatives and requested them to attend. We are not prepared to expose our members to ANC violence and hooliganism,” Mncwango said.
Johnson could not be reached for comment.
ANCYL KZN deputy chairman, Kwazi Mshengu said ANC supporters were angered by the heckling of President Jacob Zuma in Parliament.
Mshengu condemned Tuesday’s incident but blamed opposition leaders in the National Assembly for the behaviour.
“When the ruling and opposition parties meet at local level, our members react in a manner that shows the opposition that what they do in Parliament to the president, ANC members can do to them. We call for respect among all party members,” Mshengu said.
Daily News