Fists flew and various members were injured when they got beaten up and pepper sprays were used.
The ANCYL in the Mpumalanga province has condemned the violence that occurred at a planned Regional General Council over the weekend.
It says it has now instituted internal investigations to determine what led to the violence and those who are going to be found to be in the wrong will face the consequences of their actions.
Provincial spokesman Bheki Sithole said the provincial executive committee awaits a full report from the Nkangala ANCYL on what really happened on the Sunday afternoon of 9 September 2018 when ANCYL members turned against each other, badly beating one another at the eMalahleni civic theatre where they were supposed to hold a special RGC.
“We are against any form of violence in our gathering and those who continue to practice such thuggery and backward acts will be dealt with if they are found to be members of the ANCYL,” Sithole said.
“If they are not members we will allow the law enforcement agencies to also investigate the carrying of guns [and] whether those fire arms are legal or not,” he said.
Sithole said the RGC could not sit because of administrative issues “which had potential of creating more problems for the ANCYL” and had to be postponed.
“The PEC is yet to receive a detailed report on the said incident,” Sithole said.
Some members had to be rushed to hospital on Sunday afternoon in order to be treated after the beating and use of pepper sprays.
013NEWS has learnt that the violence that erupted at the Nkangala ANCYL RGC had more to do with the upcoming provincial and national congresses.
Members are divided between those who support ANCYL NEC member Ndumiso Mokako for the position of President and those who want provincial secretary Pholoso Mbatsane to be national secretary.
Those who want Mokako to replace Collen Maine also want KZN secretary Thanduxolo Sabelo to be national secretary.
They also want provincial deputy leader Trevor Nkosi to come become the provincial chair, taking over from Tim Mashele.
But Mbatsane supporters want him to retain the post of provincial secretary in order to be elevated to national office as secretary general when the 26th national congress is held later on. They also want Nkangala secretary Thabang Mathebula to be the provincial chair.
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Meanwhile, the Nkangala ANCYL has slammed as “sensational” the report by 013NEWS this week on the RGC being convened to make pronouncement on Mbatsane and Thabang.
Spokesman Banele ‘Masheleni’ Nkosi said they convened the special RGC in order to finish the business of the May 2018 regional elective conference that made Bobo Mtshweni the chairman, Thabang the secretary, Memory Khumalo deputy chair, Kathy Mkhuma deputy secretary and treasurer Dennis Mtsweni.
“Thus the reports by 013NEWS are baseless, unscientific and unfounded,” Masheleni said in a statement.
“The special RGC and the delegation thereof did not have the mandate from the branches to make pronouncements on the upcoming provincial and national conferences respectively as branches are due for their Branch Annual General Meetings and Branch General Meetings wherein branch executive committees will be elected, and branch delegates will be elected for the purpose of the said conferences,” he said.
“The regional executive committee further notes such reporting as expedient, malice and playing to the gallery, sensationalising further political tensions in the region,” Masheleni said.
A week ago, the REC released a statement and pronounced they would support Mathebula to be provincial chair and Mbatsane to be secretary.
They also told this paper that they were in discussion with national treasurer Reggie Nkabinde for the position of President.
Masheleni added the violence that occured at the eMalahleni civic theatre was a “mutinous behaviour” and was “reactionary, barbaric and counter-revolutionary” and against all that the ANCYL stands for.
“The ANCYL of Anton Lembede and Peter Mokaba embodies political tolerance, guided by scientific and superior opinions, not physical confrontation and pepper sprays as this is indicative of total political disintegration of our glorious youth movement,” he said.
(edited by MLM)
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