Torching of ANC Limpopo regional HQ sets tongues wagging

The torching of the ANC regional headquarters in Mopani last week has set tongues wagging in Limpopo and beyond the province’s borders. The incident has raised more questions about factionalism, as it happened shortly after the region held its elective conference.

Police believe it was motivated by criminal intent, but the upper echelons of the ANC in the province believe factionalism was behind it.

The offices of the ANC in Tzaneen, outside Polokwane, were petrol-bombed on Tuesday, Limpopo police spokesperson Captain Mamphaswa Seabi said yesterday. He added that no arrests had been made so far, despite a massive manhunt for the suspects.

Mopani ANC regional secretary Baisekopo Makamu said the party was still shaken by the incident.

“What is more worrying is the fact that the same offices were broken into earlier this year. At that time, furniture and other equipment was stolen, but later recovered. This was after police discovered that the burglary was an inside job.”

He said police later arrested a member of a security company working in the offices after investigations linked him and a construction worker from an adjoining company to the crime.

Meanwhile, police are still looking for anyone with information regarding the arson involving Musina municipality buildings, near Beitbridge between South Africa and Zimbabwe, three weeks ago. Only a division of the housing department in the building was burnt before the fire was extinguished.

Documents of the allocation of low-cost houses and furniture were destroyed. The incident raised eyebrows as, two weeks prior to it, residents had accused the municipality and the provincial department of housing of awarding houses to friends, relatives, concubines and undocumented immigrants.

– news@citizen.co.za