THE ANC’s elective conference in the Port St John’s sub-region was abandoned for the second time in three weeks after violence erupted, with some delegates allegedly being beaten up and pepper-sprayed over the weekend .
Mlamli Ndabeni, the sub-region’s secretary , downplayed the incident but confirmed a decision had been taken to adjourn the conference on Sunday.
He denied reports that shots were fired and that private security guards had been hired to keep order, saying internal security in the form of ANC marshals had been used.
“Yes I was told that shots were fired but that is not true. We couldn’t find to that effect,” he said.
Ndabeni said the commotion took place outside the conference hall when people wanted to forcefully get inside.
“I did not see people fighting but marshals used pepper spray when some people who were not supposed to be inside the hall started pushing and forcing their way in,” he said.
Only five delegates per branch were reportedly allowed into the conference hall.
The secretary revealed that the delegates had received instructions from the ANC’s provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane to adjourn the conference.
Attempts to contact Mabuyane for comment were unsuccessful yesterday as he did not answer his cellphone.
Ndabeni said police were also called to the venue of the conference where they met with the party’s O R Tambo regional leadership.
“They spoke for 15 to 20 minutes. We then decided to postpone the conference until Wednesday ,” he said.
Last month, the Dispatch reported that the same conference had to be adjourned after it was marred by chaotic scenes when it was discovered that at least three of the branches had been excluded from the sub-region’s credentials report .
This was seen by some as “sabotage” as it meant they could not participate in electing new leadership for the sub-region.
The ANC’s regional chairman, Thandekile Sabisa, could not be reached for comment yesterday while Port St Johns police spokesman Captain Mduduzi Godlwana said he was not aware of the incident. —
ANC’s elective conference ends in chaos
Mlamli Ndabeni, the sub-region’s secretary , downplayed the incident but confirmed a decision had been taken to adjourn the conference on Sunday.
He denied reports that shots were fired and that private security guards had been hired to keep order, saying internal security in the form of ANC marshals had been used.
“Yes I was told that shots were fired but that is not true. We couldn’t find to that effect,” he said.
Ndabeni said the commotion took place outside the conference hall when people wanted to forcefully get inside.
“I did not see people fighting but marshals used pepper spray when some people who were not supposed to be inside the hall started pushing and forcing their way in,” he said.
Only five delegates per branch were reportedly allowed into the conference hall.
The secretary revealed that the delegates had received instructions from the ANC’s provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane to adjourn the conference.
Attempts to contact Mabuyane for comment were unsuccessful yesterday as he did not answer his cellphone.
Ndabeni said police were also called to the venue of the conference where they met with the party’s O R Tambo regional leadership.
“They spoke for 15 to 20 minutes. We then decided to postpone the conference until Wednesday ,” he said.
Last month, the Dispatch reported that the same conference had to be adjourned after it was marred by chaotic scenes when it was discovered that at least three of the branches had been excluded from the sub-region’s credentials report .
This was seen by some as “sabotage” as it meant they could not participate in electing new leadership for the sub-region.
The ANC’s regional chairman, Thandekile Sabisa, could not be reached for comment yesterday while Port St Johns police spokesman Captain Mduduzi Godlwana said he was not aware of the incident. —
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