De Lille not 'slap-happy'
2004-03-25 09:30
Cape Town - Fighting during this year's election campaign can result in flaring tempers, but this time she was definitely not involved.
Patricia de Lille, leader of the Independent Democrats, ID, made the statement after allegations regarding fighting between her and senior ANC members in and outside the Protea Hotel in Upington.
Tongues wagged in the town on Monday evening after the fracas which eyewitnesses said lasted about 10 minutes.
De Lille says the ANC is manufacturing things to try and put her in a bad light.
The ANC reportedly says De Lille hit one of its members in the face. De Lille admitted that there was some shoving, but denied she was involved.
The police confirmed that several charges have been laid, among them assault and intimidation.
A quarrel started
The hotel manager, Roy Martin, says the ID members were leaving the hotel about 23:00 when some ANC members arrived. A quarrel started, but he says it was unclear what it was about.
ANC members allege that De Lille made unflattering remarks about President Thabo Mbeki.
De Lille says she was followed from a restaurant where she had dinner, about 40m from the hotel where she was staying. Her statement says some of the ANC members followed her into the hotel's foyer and several remarks were made.
De Lille alleges that Joshua Losper, Okiep's ANC executive mayor, apparently threatened to shoot John Gunda, the ID organiser in the Northern Cape. De Lille also claimed Losper hit Gunda's daughter, but he denied the allegation.
De Lille has confirmed that she has laid a charge of intimidation against the ANC. She also laid a complaint against the hotel, because the personnel apparently refused to contact the police. Her colleague and ID secretary-general, Avril Harding, called Gunda to assist.
Martin, who late on Wednesday evening wasn't aware of complaints against the hotel management, has denied that his employees refused to contact the police.
De Lille says she wasn't involved in the quarrel. She says the proof is that a charge hasn't been laid against her.