Lungani Zungu
Amid fresh threats of a second phase of unrest, Jessie Duarte, ANC deputy secretary-general, said the ruling party was finalising its charge sheets against members who fuelled previous unrest.
Duarte said the party had not yet handed the charge sheet to members accused of stoking the violence and looting following the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma last month.
“It will be unfair for me to tell you their names and charges they face when we have not given them the charge sheet,” she said.
The ANC members who would be charged risked being suspended, or worse, having their party membership scrapped.
She said the ANC was aware of a message that was circulating threatening a second phase of the unrest.
“We have alerted the law-enforcement authorities about the second phase threats,” she said.
Scrolla.Africa has learnt from ANC insiders that members who encouraged violence under the #FreeJacobZuma would be charged for inciting violence.
“The people who also publicly incited people to defend Zuma will be charged,” said a party source.
Examples include ANC members Carl Niehaus and Andile Lungisa, both strong Zuma backers, who have been accused of stoking the violence.
Both have been arrested for breaking the lockdown regulations and were later released, after they were part of gatherings that exceeded the limit of people permitted.
In an interview with the BBC, Niehaus threatened to sue Fikile Mbalula after the Transport Minister claimed that he was among the instigators of violence.
Among the people who have been arrested was ex-radio DJ Ngizwe Mchunu and the Joburg-based lawyer, Advocate Ike Khumalo.
Mchunu was released on R2,000 bail and Khumalo on R3,000 bail.
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe said the party would release the names of the people the party would charge for inciting violence once they have completed the charge sheet.
Image source: @mpumalanga_tv
