Two senior ANC branch leaders appeared briefly on assault charges amid ongoing tension between factions in Buffalo City Metro (BCM).
Mdantsane’s ward 24 branch chairman Sandla Sotaka and branch secretary Melisizwe Tutu made their first appearance in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
They were not asked to plead and the matter was postponed to May 5 pending their application for a lawyer from the Legal Aids Board.
Police spokesman Mluleki Mbi said the two were arrested on Tuesday and released on warning.
The charge was laid by F Matwa, who refused to give his name and talk about the matter, saying the matter was in court.
During their court appearance yesterday, Tutu and Sotaka were accompanied by BCM councillor Zameka Gajula, who is also a branch executive member, and ward committee member Dakie Mbombela.
Tutu denied they were arrested saying they presented themselves to Inyibiba Police Station on Tuesday. He said this was after they were called to explain, as the branch leadership, what happened at a meeting on March 13 when two factions had clashed over candidate nominations.
Sotaka echoed Tutu’s sentiments that their case was politically motivated and Gajula said the case was related to faction fights in BCM over the newly elected leadership of the Dr WB Rubusana region.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said: “We condemn any form of violence in ANC meetings. No barbaric behaviour will be tolerated in the ANC. Our organisation is not an organisation of hooligans.”
He said the ANC would follow its internal processes once a report had been received.
ANC branch leaders in dock for assault
Mdantsane’s ward 24 branch chairman Sandla Sotaka and branch secretary Melisizwe Tutu made their first appearance in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
They were not asked to plead and the matter was postponed to May 5 pending their application for a lawyer from the Legal Aids Board.
Police spokesman Mluleki Mbi said the two were arrested on Tuesday and released on warning.
The charge was laid by F Matwa, who refused to give his name and talk about the matter, saying the matter was in court.
During their court appearance yesterday, Tutu and Sotaka were accompanied by BCM councillor Zameka Gajula, who is also a branch executive member, and ward committee member Dakie Mbombela.
Tutu denied they were arrested saying they presented themselves to Inyibiba Police Station on Tuesday. He said this was after they were called to explain, as the branch leadership, what happened at a meeting on March 13 when two factions had clashed over candidate nominations.
Sotaka echoed Tutu’s sentiments that their case was politically motivated and Gajula said the case was related to faction fights in BCM over the newly elected leadership of the Dr WB Rubusana region.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said: “We condemn any form of violence in ANC meetings. No barbaric behaviour will be tolerated in the ANC. Our organisation is not an organisation of hooligans.”
He said the ANC would follow its internal processes once a report had been received.
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