Lekota 'urinating' on ANC

2008-11-14 18:05

Durban - Terror Lekota should focus on policies and stop aggravating ordinary ANC members by "urinating" on the African National Congress, the party's KwaZulu-Natal secretary-general said on Friday.

Senzo Mchunu's comments followed reports that ANC supporters had disrupted a meeting of Congress of the People (Cope) supporters in Durban's northern Verulam area where Lekota was due to speak.

"Terror has decided that he is going to urinate on the ANC by rubbishing the ANC as much as he can. If he continues to do so, ordinary members are going to feel the need to defend the party.

"I'm not saying they should, but this makes it difficult for us to appeal for discipline from the people.

"There are other parties such as the IFP and the DA. They criticise the ANC regularly, but they don't rubbish the ANC," he said.

"He should concentrate on his party and their policies. We are capable of speaking for ourselves," said Mchunu.

He said the information that he had was that a number of ANC members had received SMSs inviting them to the meeting on Thursday.

"It's a strange way of working. I found that quite ridiculous and it's provocative to say the least," said Mchunu.

The Mercury Newspaper reported on Friday morning that about 50 Cope supporters had gathered at a hall to hear Lekota speak when about 200 ANC supporters stormed the hall in Verulam north of Durban.

It said that the supporters, most of whom were wearing T-shirts with ANC president Jacob Zuma's picture and brandishing Zuma banners, burst into the hall and toyi-toyied, preventing the meeting from getting off the ground.

The ANC members, who were transported to the venue in bakkies, threw plastic chairs at the Lekota supporters and ripped Cope posters from the walls.

According to the Mercury the groups confronted one another, but senior Cope leaders, including former ANC national executive committee member Phillip Mhlongo, calmed their supporters down and prevented a fracas from breaking.

Mhlongo told the Mercury that Lekota was in the immediate vicinity, but did not arrive at the hall because of the security risk.

Police spokesperson Director Phindile Radebe confirmed that police had been called to ensure that calm was restored.

She said that no one was injured and that there were no arrests.

- SAPA