Moyahabo Mabeba
As violent protests flared up among members of the Economic Freedom Fighters in Sekhukhune, in Limpopo, two senior regional leaders were injured by rival factions.
EFF members are fighting among each other over the controversial provisional representation (PR) councillor lists in all four of the district’s local municipalities.
Protesting members have vowed to continue disrupting the swearing in of their councillors.
On Sunday, a day before the swearing in ceremony was scheduled to take place, a disgruntled faction instituted a court interdict to block the inauguration of councillors whom they say were not part of the pre-election lists.
Their attorney, Cliff Makua, confirmed that his clients have requested for the postponement of the swearing in until the list has been rectified.
“I have emailed court interdicts to municipal managers informing them that members of the EFF are disputing the list of councillors forwarded by the provincial structure,” Makua said.
“As a result, the swearing in – which was supposed to happen on Monday – will no longer take place.”
On Saturday evening, regional spokesperson Sello Tshoma was attacked by unknown men at his home in Mogaun village. Both his arms were broken and he was left with an open head wound.
Earlier on Tuesday, regional chairman Masianoke Komane was assaulted by angry party members, when violent protests got out of hand at Elias Motswaledi municipality.
Komane allegedly approached the protesting crowd and hurled insults at them. Members of the protesting crowd responded violently, and badly beat the chairman.
Kabelo Tjale, who was the councillor candidate in ward 8 in Ephraim Mogale municipality before he was controversially toppled, said there are known people who are known to be against Tshomo’s stance on the councillor list.
“We have potential suspects in this matter. We know the people who have been baying for Tshoma’s blood since he made it clear that we, the ground forces of the EFF in Sekhukhune, will never acknowledge the divisive list imposed on us,” Tjale told Scrolla.Africa.
“However, since this is a matter to be dealt with by the police, we will leave it to them to investigate.”
