Several cars were damaged during the scuffle that started at Emjindini Community Hall on Saturday afternoon.
A car that was damaged during the ANC meeting in the Umjindi subregion.
An ANC meeting descended into chaos on Saturday when party members threw chairs, beer bottles and stones at one another, leaving scores of members injured, Barberton Times reports.
A Toyota venture that was damaged during the ANC meeting in the Umjindi subregion.
The ANC in the Umjindi subregion has since distanced itself from the mayhem that occurred. According to a senior ANC member in the area, who is not authorised to speak to the media, the meeting was not arranged by the subregion.
“We were all surprised when we heard cars announcing that the ANC was calling a community meeting to introduce their party chairman candidate. All meetings in the Umjindi subregion are coordinated by Majikiza (Pat Makhubo Magagula). He was not aware of the meeting,” said the member.
ANC coordinator in Umjindi, Pat “Majikiza” Magagula with Deputy president, David Mabuza.
The member said certain “deadwoods” within the ANC want to resurrect themselves by imposing leaders on the local subregion.
Barberton Times has learned that the meeting was orchestrated by former Umjindi Local Municipality mayor, Lazarus Mashaba.
The aim of the meeting was to introduce Peter Nyoni as the provincial chairman candidate.
The chairman will replace David Mabuza, who has since taken over the reins of the ANC national deputy presidency.
Refilwe Mtsweni is currently acting as both the premier and ANC chairman.
Barberton Times has further learned that the local subregion supports Mandla Ndlovu to take over the chairman.
Mabuza, during his voter registration drive last month, did give a hint on who the local subregion must support.
Mabuza was heard saying they must support Mandla Ndlovu.
He said this while addressing the community members at Extension 11. Ndlovu himself was present during the drive.
The ANC member said people were transported as far afield as Pienaar to support the event on Saturday.
Food that was supposed to be served to those attending the meeting.
“The local people who were going to attend this meeting are the children they recruited from the TVET residences around the area. They are abusing these children because they are destitute. They adhere everything these residence owners tells them (sic),” said the member.
One taxi owner claimed that his Toyota Venture was damaged during the chaos.
“I’m not part of any factions within the ANC, but I vote for it when elections come. Now that my taxi that brings food to the table for me has been damaged, who will fix it?” said the taxi owner.
Magagula said he cannot comment, as he knew nothing of the meeting.
