Political T-shirts caused disruption in the Umzinyathi budget meeting last Wednesday at the Bathembu Hall in Msinga.
Police were called to separate African National Congress and Inkatha Freedom Party members, who were on the verge of fighting over political T-shirts.
The two parties were close to beating one other after a number of people, suspected of being members of the ANC, walked in to the hall wearing ANC T-shirts.
This caused commotion between the two parties, with members of the IFP indicating that the meeting was not going to proceed while the ANC members wearing the T-shirts were still in the hall.
Umsinga Municipality officials ordered the crowd to disperse, but to no avail. The ANC members refused to leave, arguing that the municipality had allowed members of the IFP, wearing their party’s T-shirts, to be part of the meeting too.
According to the Mayor of Umzinyathi Councillor Mayor James Mthethwa, “This was a plot to shame the ANC.” He said they did not know who those people were. It is said that those people were transported by a number of taxis to the Bathembu Hall.
Mr Siphiwe Mbhele of the ANC said, “We deliberately wore our party’s T-shirts because members of the IFP had theirs on.”
The sudden appearence of a number of people wearing the party’s T-shirts was suspicious to the officials, and Msinga Mayor Councillor Felamandla Skhakhane said that they were surprised to learn that these people were being transported to the hall.
Political T-shirts disrupt budget meeting
Police were called to separate African National Congress and Inkatha Freedom Party members, who were on the verge of fighting over political T-shirts.
