Black First Land First (BLF) has opened a case with the police against an ANC man who was seen on the social media kicking a 52-year-old woman during their stand-off on 5 February.
The party’s national spokesperson, Thandiswa Yaphi, confirmed this to the North Eastern Tribune in an exclusive interview on 6 February.
Olivia Makete, a member of BLF Region G in Ward 4, was seen being attacked and kicked by ANC branch secretary for the Johannesburg inner city, Thabiso Setona.
Read: WATCH: ANC members assault BLF members
Makete is one of the few BLF members who was beaten and kicked when they were trying to drive past enraged members of the ruling party during the Hands-off Zuma protest near Luthuli House.
ANC members were guarding their headquarters following threats that pro-Zuma protesters will be marching to Luthuli House to stop the new party’s leadership from ousting Jacob Zuma as South Africa’s president.
When a bakkie carrying BLF members, in which Makete was an occupant, appeared along President Street, some ANC members attacked and assaulted the occupants with sticks and stones in full view of the police.
A video of Setona laying into Makete emerged and he has been criticised by various political parties, including the ANC.
Read: WATCH: The ANC under Siege
The media has since reported that Setona handed himself over to the Johannesburg police for his ‘barbaric’ actions. However, this could not be confirmed. When contacted, Johannesburg Central Police’s acting spokesperson, Constable Constance Lelimo said, “I’m not aware if the case was opened at our police station or not.”
Yaphi, a member of the BLF Vaal Region, said they are appalled by ANC cadres attacking their members and added that they have opened a case of assault at the Orange Farm Police Station.
He said they will also try to establish if Setona did hand himself to the police. “We will make sure that we are in court because we deeply discourage this barbaric, violent act,” said Yaphi.
“We are surprised that in this day and age we find men perpetuating such acts of violence on women… we are mobilising for a jail term because perpetrators must know that what they did prove that men in this country don’t respect women and it must come to an end.”
Read: WATCH: Hands off Zuma protest kicks off on Twitter
Yaphi also alleged that ANC leaders, without revealing their identities, tried to bribe the victim not to pursue the case, saying they will lay another charge.
The ANC’s regional spokesperson, Jolidee Motongo, said they have noted with dismay and utter disgust the images and videos circulating of their member assaulting the woman outside Luthuli House.
The National Freedom Party has urged the Minister of Police, Fikile Mbalula, to ensure that all implicated ANC members get arrested urgently.
Details: Thandiswa Yaphi 063 107 3163.
