Cape Town - President of the ANC Youth League Collen Maine declared that the party’s youth would do all it could to protect the nation’s president.
“We are prepared to pay the highest cost,” said Maine outside of the City Hall in Darling Street, Cape Town.
This just a while before President Jacob Zuma was due to deliver his ninth State of the Nation Address (SONA). It will arguably be his most challenging yet with the Economic Freedom Fighters having already threatened to disrupt proceedings.
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“The Youth League called on members to come to Parliament. People are here to protect Parliament and the President,” said Maine.
Maine, who earlier this month threatened the EFF with “civil war” – a statement the ANC has since rebuked – said if EFF leader Julius Malema was thrown out of Parliament, the “Youth League would be waiting outside for him”.
Maine added that should there be any disturbance during SONA, the members would “go through” the police to protect the President and Parliament.
Riot police maintained a strong presence near the Grand Parade and around Parliament.
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Earlier on Thursday, police dispersed a crowd with stun grenades outside of St George's Cathedral where some EFF supporters had gathered.
Running battles between Ses'khona People's Movement and supporters of the EFF played out in Cape Town CBD on Thursday afternoon, with one person getting stabbed.
Mzwanele (who's second name couldn't be obtained) a member of Ses'khona, was stabbed in the head and face multiple times, allegedly by supporters of the EFF when violence ensued after the two groups met at the corner of Hout and Adderley street in Cape Town.
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When ANA arrived on the scene, Mzwanele was bleeding profusely from the head, using a t-shirt to try to stop blood from flowing freely, and the alleged perpetrators had fled.
“They started fighting with EFF members who were going towards parliament. After the fight, this guy was lying on the ground with these stab wounds on the head,” a CCID security guard who declined to be named said.
The EFF's spokesperson's phone was off as he was at SONA.
Mzwanele declined to be interviewed. But when speaking to his comrades, he said he knew the person who had stabbed him, and vowed to open a case against him.
Ses'khona members and the security guards tried calling emergency services for the injured Mzwanele, but later people donated money for him to be taken to hospital as the ambulance did not pitch.
More members of the police were brought in to restore calm after the clashes as all protests were restricted by barbed wire from going near the parliamentary precinct.
Ses'khona leader, Loyiso Nkohla later arrived and reprimanded members of his organisation for engaging in a fistfight with the EFF.
Ses'khona continued to protest on the streets of the CBD.
African News Agency
#ANC protest c/o Adderly & Darling #SONA2016 @TheCapeArgus pic.twitter.com/kxFpHfT3MF
— Tracey Leigh Adams (@Traceyleighadam) February 11, 2016