ANC awaits report on 'brawl'
2008-02-05 18:18
Johannesburg - The ANC in the Eastern Cape was awaiting details on Tuesday on a reported brawl at a party branch meeting, which apparently landed some people in hospital.
Pemmy Majodina, deputy secretary of the African National Congress in the province, said the party had been told of "fighting" at a branch meeting in Khayalethu village near Alice on Sunday.
"We received a report about people who were hospitalised but we do not have a full details of the incident," she said.
Majodina condemned the incident because "irrespective of our differences, people must not fight".
It was reported that a number of ANC members at Alice had sustained injuries after the branch meeting ended in an exchange of blows on Sunday afternoon.
A group apparently arrived at Khayalethu village during the registration process for an annual general meeting and called for its closure.
Tempers flared after it was found that the alleged disrupters did not belong to the branch.
Majodina dismissed talk that the fight was between Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma supporters.
"That is not true," she said.
Majodina said disciplinary action would be taken against people if necessary because the party could not afford "members who are fighting".
Captain Ernst Sigobe said charges of malicious damage to property and assault were being investigated.
The branch meeting apparently has been re-scheduled for February 17.
- SAPA