ANC-members attack police, Amajuba Mall and police station NewcastlePosted: Oct 28 2011 07:16 AM PST
ANC-members attack police at Amajuba Mall and police station: Newcastle: Police defended themselves with rubber bullets and pepper spray after aggressive members of the ANC damaged two state vehicles and injured one police officer during the party's regional conference. 28 October 2011 source: journalist Estella Naicker ANC members protesting against the Emalahleni regional conference, attacked police with rocks, stones and bricks, damaging two state vehicles and injuring one officer.
Police resorted to rubber bullets and pepper spray to disperse the unruly crowd, and arrested 35 protestors for illegal gathering and public disturbance. Centre manager of Amajuba Mall, where some of the protestors were eventually arrested, Robbie Matthee, said the protest actually began at Majuba Lodge, where the ANC conference was being held, but protestors ran to the mall when police chased them. “We noticed that something was going on. The security guards at the mall acted quickly and managed to keep the protestors at one end of the mall, away from shoppers, until the police arrived,” said Mr Matthee. For weeks, certain ANC members have been calling for change within the regional executive of the party, complaining that the branch general meetings were being held in a manner that was factional and unconstitutional. Protests escalated when sit-ins were staged at the ANC offices. 73 members of the ANC who participated in the sit-in were arrested and charged with trespassing. It wasn’t long after, however, when a second sit-in was staged during which fire hydrants were opened, causing R30 000 worth of damage to a municipal building. Trespassing charges were withdrawn this week. This morning two bus loads of disgruntled ANC members gathered at Trim Park and made their way to Majuba Lodge to hand over a memorandum to KZN provincial chairperson of the ANC, Zweli Mkhize, who is currently conducting the election of the party’s regional executive. “We approached the protestors at Trim Park and told them that their march was unlawful but they forced their way to Majuba Lodge and they attacked us,” said SAPS communications officer, Warrant Officer Simon Luthuli, who formed part of the crew who tried to contain the protestors. During the regional conference which will continue tomorrow, Mr Mkhize said that the ANC was, “facing a crunch.” “There are internal challenges,” he said, addressing delegates at the conference. “We need to be open on how to deal with those challenges. Values of the ANC must not be eroded by the influx of new members or young members. Members of the ANC must show humility, discipline and dedication to being true servants of the people. http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/newcastle/newcastle-news-general?oid=4806400&sn=Detail&pid=4596133&ANC-members-attack-police
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