Law enforcement officers clash with disgruntled ANC delegates outside the Imvelo Safari hostel in Bloemfontein.
- Chaotic scenes marred what was supposed to be the first day of the much-anticipated ANC Free State conference.
- Instead of starting, six arrests were made outside the Imvelo Safari Lodge in Bloemfontein, where the elective conference was supposed to take place.
- Numerous injuries were also reported when disgruntled delegates clashed with law enforcement officials.
The long-awaited Free State ANC elective conference had yet to start on Friday night as violent clashes with law enforcement officers marred the proceedings.
The drama-filled day culminated in six arrests, numerous injuries and a last-minute change at the registration site, with national and provincial leadership citing security concerns as motivating factors.
Disgruntled ANC members stormed the open-air registration site at the Petrus Molemela Stadium grounds.
The aggrieved members, according to ANC national executive committee member David Mahlobo, expressed concern that legitimate delegates elected by the branches had allegedly been switched and replaced with fake personas to retain incumbent members on the interim provincial committee ( CPI).
Mahlobo said part of the concern was that there were people who were determined not to let the conference sit.
He added that these rogue elements would not succeed, and that the national leadership had been working tirelessly to ensure that provincial leaders understood that the conference should result in bettering communities, not gaining positions.
Mahlobo said that due to attempts to derail the conference by stopping the registration process, a decision was made to move the registration venue to an undisclosed location.
The temporary suspension of the registration process and subsequently the non-disclosure of the new venue led to confusion as some delegates made their way to the conference venue, Imvelo Safari Lodge, which is located just minutes from Bloemfontein CBD.
Upon arrival, law enforcement officials denied delegates access.
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Clashes later broke out between the police and a large group of ANC delegates, which left several injured and at least six people arrested.
Police, Roads and Transport MEC William Bulwane, who tried to defuse the rapidly escalating situation, told News24 that “four men and two women have been arrested.”
He said he would receive a report from the police and then brief the media on what led up to the confrontation.
Mahlobo added that national and provincial leaders had agreed during urgent consultations that provincial leaders “should be visible and not participate in or encourage the deep divisions” that were developing.
