ANC official ‘held hostage’ in Limpopo

Political intolerance has again surfaced in Limpopo when angry ANC politicians allegedly “held ANC provincial secretary Soviet Lekganyane hostage”.

This incident is reported to have happened at the Limpopo ANC headquarters at Biccard Street in Polokwane last week.

According to information, the angry politicians, accompanied by disgruntled community members, marched to the party’s offices carrying anti-corruption placards and handed over a list of grievances to Lekganyane.

Among many complaints, the group called on Lekganyane to tear up a candidate list of ward and proportional councillors sent to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) head in Limpopo, Nkaro Mateta.

“When I thought they would leave after we responded to them, they stood firm. They called me all sorts of names and hurled serious insults at me,” said Lekganyane during an interview on SABC’s Thlokwa la Tsela morning programme on Tuesday.

Lekganyane said the incensed group prevented him from leaving, saying he was responsible for the list and had to act.

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“I told them to wait until the plea by the ANC national leadership to the IEC to reopen the candidate list was answered. But they still refused to let me leave.”

Last week, another group of disgruntled branch members picketed outside the same building asking for Lekganyane to nullify the candidate list.

The group was mainly from the Ephraim Mogale, Elias Motsoaledi, Fetakgomo/Tubatsi and Makhuduthamaga local municipalities in the Sekhukhune region of the province.

The group alleged the list contained names of people involved in the VBS saga.

They also alleged most people on the list were not nominated by their branches and were only placed there because they were close to the leadership of the ANC.