ANCYL calls for 'maximum discipline'
2011-08-30 12:29
Johannesburg - The ANC Youth League condemned the burning of a T-shirt bearing a picture of President Jacob Zuma ahead of its president Julius Malema's disciplinary hearing on Tuesday.
"The ANCYL strongly condemns and dissociates itself from the burning of ANC T-shirts with the face of President Zuma," it said.
"We... call on those who are here to support the leadership to exercise maximum discipline and do so in a peaceful manner, regard and respect to the ANC process."
The league said it would never be associated with "unruly, disruptive elements and agents provocateurs".
Totally unacceptable - ANC
Earlier, ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said the violence was "totally unacceptable".
A Sapa photographer, Werner Beukes, and two eNews journalists, Belinda Moses and Cathy Mohlahlana, were pelted with stones.
"It flies in the face of what the leadership has called for - disciplined behaviour," Mthembu said as groups earlier tried to push towards ANC headquarters Luthuli House.
"It is not disciplined, and criminal. We have seen journalists being pelted. We have also seen even our police being pelted with stones, and all types of things.
"We are therefore saying this is unacceptable and we put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the ANCYL. We are very concerned."
The ANC appreciated police's role and called on them not to be provoked.
"They must ensure the safety and security of everyone within the city."
Situation under control
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said even though the groups were throwing objects and burning posters, they felt they had the situation under control.
"We have got enough members on the ground to contain the situation."
Earlier police used water canon trucks on the crowd as three helicopters hovered over the region of Beyers Naude Square and Luthuli House, situated on the corner of Sauer and President streets.
By mid-morning he said no arrests had been made, and no injuries reported.
Asked whether ANC leaders planned to go outside and address the crowds, Mthembu said: "We believe those that are responsible for bringing the people here should be responsible for that. The ball is in the court of the ANCYL leadership.
"The insults that are being thrown, the burning of posters, faces of our leadership that are on some posters, generally the unruly behaviour, cars being damaged ... that is totally un-ANC, you will not expect members of the ANC to do that. We cannot be quiet. They are tarnishing the image of the ANC."
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