A large group of ANC members marched in Tshwane on Friday in support of their regional chairman amid claims of manipulation of the nomination process for the upcoming local government elections.
Protesters were singing struggle songs and holding up placards expressing their support for ANC chairman in the region, Sputla Ramakgopa, who is also Tshwane's mayor.
Some of the placards read: “We support and vote for our own candidate”, “Elias is a (Congress of the People) agent and is making divisions within the ANC” and “We are tired of those hooligans and corrupt cadres, Ramakgopa is our leader”.
The poster referred to Elias Motloutse, secretary general of the ANC's Tshwane's region.
This happened a day after another faction of the ANC marched to the regional offices and locked the doors with chains. They claimed that leaders were manipulating the list process and that Ramakgopa was imposing candidates as ward councillors.
However this was denied by ANC regional spokesman, Burton Joseph as “a lie and not correct”.
Joseph said that Ramokgopa was not even part of a list committee.
Many ANC members continued arriving in buses and were on their way to unlock the chained-up offices.
Burton said they took the actions of those members involved in the chaining of the offices seriously and that they would find the culprits.
“We were given a mandate by the metro general council to crush foreign tendencies we are experiencing within our ranks. Our members are protesting today in support of our leadership and for the integrity of the list process.
“Our members will also unlock the regional offices so that the organisation can continue its work of leading the election campaign,” he said. - Sapa