A number of ANC Youth League delegates were hospitalised on Sunday night after the provincial elective conference plunged into turmoil.
One of the factions left the venue after lights went off and a fight broke out, but a rival group remained and elected the new executive.
Parallel structures have now emerged and both claim they are the legitimate leadership of the league in the province.
Both factions held press briefings yesterday introducing themselves to the media.
One leadership structure was elected unopposed and outgoing provincial task team (PTT) coordinator Butsha Lali was elected as the secretary and Alfred Nzo regional chair, Nathi Nqoko, as the chairman of the province.
The faction that left the proceedings after the scuffle broke out went on to elect their own leadership at the Orient Theatre.
The grouping elected Nelson Mandela Metro-based Sicelo Mleve as its chairman and Ndumiso Sapepa as the secretary.
The fight broke out at midnight on Sunday when delegates could not agree on adoption of credentials.
As delegates were singing struggle songs just before midnight, the venue lights went off and the two factions of security started throwing chairs and punches at each other.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane condemned the violence saying the culprits will answer to the mother body.
“As ANC we commit to uproot the tendency and those who are implicated will account,” Mabuyane said.
Delegates who spoke to the Dispatch after the fighting alleged it was incited by Lali when he started singing a violence inciting revolutionary song ningamagwala, noyika ntoni? (you are cowards, what are you scared of?).
A branch delegate from the Nelson Mandela Metro region Samkelo Dlulane, who had his arm broken during the violence, said: “After Lali delivered the PTT report he decided to incite the violence by singing that song. Then bouncers who were separating the two factions started beating us and the fight erupted.”
He said he was then taken to Frere Hospital where he was treated.
Lali however denied the allegations saying he was singing a song as was usual practice.
“One of the things you do as a leader, when you see that the people seem to be disunited at congress, you sing revolutionary songs, songs that unite the delegates,” Lali said.
More than 10 police vehicles were deployed to the conference venue in Wilsonia and calm was eventually restored. – siphem@dispatch.co.za
ANCYL delegates rushed to hospital
One of the factions left the venue after lights went off and a fight broke out, but a rival group remained and elected the new executive.
Parallel structures have now emerged and both claim they are the legitimate leadership of the league in the province.
Both factions held press briefings yesterday introducing themselves to the media.
One leadership structure was elected unopposed and outgoing provincial task team (PTT) coordinator Butsha Lali was elected as the secretary and Alfred Nzo regional chair, Nathi Nqoko, as the chairman of the province.
The faction that left the proceedings after the scuffle broke out went on to elect their own leadership at the Orient Theatre.
The grouping elected Nelson Mandela Metro-based Sicelo Mleve as its chairman and Ndumiso Sapepa as the secretary.
The fight broke out at midnight on Sunday when delegates could not agree on adoption of credentials.
As delegates were singing struggle songs just before midnight, the venue lights went off and the two factions of security started throwing chairs and punches at each other.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane condemned the violence saying the culprits will answer to the mother body.
“As ANC we commit to uproot the tendency and those who are implicated will account,” Mabuyane said.
Delegates who spoke to the Dispatch after the fighting alleged it was incited by Lali when he started singing a violence inciting revolutionary song ningamagwala, noyika ntoni? (you are cowards, what are you scared of?).
A branch delegate from the Nelson Mandela Metro region Samkelo Dlulane, who had his arm broken during the violence, said: “After Lali delivered the PTT report he decided to incite the violence by singing that song. Then bouncers who were separating the two factions started beating us and the fight erupted.”
He said he was then taken to Frere Hospital where he was treated.
Lali however denied the allegations saying he was singing a song as was usual practice.
“One of the things you do as a leader, when you see that the people seem to be disunited at congress, you sing revolutionary songs, songs that unite the delegates,” Lali said.
More than 10 police vehicles were deployed to the conference venue in Wilsonia and calm was eventually restored. – siphem@dispatch.co.za
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