Police fired stun grenades at rival factions in an ANC meeting shortly before the council was due to elect a new mayor, speaker and chief whip in Stutterheim this week.
The ANC is experiencing revolt from several Eastern Cape councils where it wants to reshuffle executives.
In Amahlathi municipality, mayor Phateka Qaba, speaker Nokuzola Mlahleki and chief whip Xhanti Mngxaso resigned after an instruction from the provincial leadership.
The party is facing a similar dilemma in Mbizana, where it also wants to reshuffle the troika. The same defiance played out in Walter Sisulu municipality late last year when the party resolved to install a new speaker.
In a video seen by the Dispatch, supporters dressed in ANC T-shirts clashed with police in Stutterheim on Tuesday.
Soon afterwards, smoke from stun grenades appeared inside the Lutheran Hall and a loud noise could be heard with ANC supporters ducking for cover...