Heated stand-off between cops, Motlanthe backers
2012-12-17 19:53
Staff reporters, NewsFire
Mangaung - A heated stand-off took place in Mangaung on Monday
afternoon between police and about 150 pro-change ANC members from the Free
State and the Western Cape, after police told the group that they did not have
permission to gather.
The group had gathered near the University of the Free
State, where the ANC's elective conference is being held, to chant and sing
their support for Kgalema Motlanthe.
"We are not allowed near campus to give our support to our
delegates but the Zuma guys are being escorted," one ANC member said, referring
to a convoy of cars driven by President Jacob Zuma supporters that had been
seen driving through Bloemfontein on Monday afternoon.
The mood among the pro-change members was disappointed and
angry after the morning’s ANC nomination process, during which Zuma emerged as
the clear favourite to retain his position as ANC president.
"They [Zuma and Mantashe] don't care if they rape the
constitution. They think and hope they might rig the national elections in the
same way they rigged the ANC conference," said Mpho Mojanaga, a delegate from
the Free State.
While the group insisted they remained loyal to the party,
they said this loyalty did not extend to Zuma.
"Zuma is on his own for the 2014
election. We will not campaign for him," said Ronnie Thabane, a Free State ANC
member.
The stand-off was apparently sparked when a pro-Zuma
delegate from KwaZulu-Natal approached the group with a firearm and threatened
to shoot, in the presence of police who did not intervene.
