ANC meeting turns violent

2009-07-19 19:06

Johannesburg - A public hall was damaged by protesters angry at the possible disbanding of the ANC provincial executive committee in Rustenburg, North West police said.

"Police had to fire rubber bullets while trying to disperse the unruly crowd. The protesters were throwing chairs at some ministers who were attending the meeting," said Captain Elsabe Augoustides.

Protesters broke windows and a glass door of the Ben Marais hall.

"About 1 000 people attended the meeting and two people were taken in for questioning."

It was not clear whether the two were formally charged, said Augoustides, but a case of public violence was opened.

There were unconfirmed reports that an SABC journalist had been injured during the violent meeting.

"It is still not clear whether the journalist sustained bullet wounds or that he was injured by the protesters."

Provincial leaders of the party were escorted out of the hall while the marchers were chanting outside.

The protesters were said to have disrupted the meeting as they opposed a move by the party's National Executive Committee to disband the province's committee.

It was not clear whether anyone else had been injured during the ruckus, said Augoustides.

The African National Congress condemned the incident.

"We will not be held to ransom by criminal elements posing as ANC members and call on the police to investigate and bring the perpetrators to book," spokesperson Brian Sokutu said in a statement.

"The ANC also regrets reports of an alleged shooting said to have taken place outside the hall, resulting in an SABC photographer being injured," he said.

- SAPA