Devastated: (ANC newly-elected Branch Secretary, Nonofo Maroke with broken hand)

BY STAFF REPORTER

Taung- A CHAOTIC event unfolded at an elective conference held by African National Congress at Manthestad village, near Taung a week ago.

The ANC on Friday expressed disappointment at the collapse of its Kgantlapane Branch’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) that also served as elective conference.

The conference turned into chaos and violence a week ago and that forced comrades to duck and dive in evasive.

The chairs were flying around few minutes after the conference started and that left the newly elected branch secretary Nonofo Maroke with a broken hand.

The faction within the ANC forced the elective conference to be halted for hours before it could commerce.

According to injured branch secretary, Nonofo Maroke the other faction disrupted the meeting because their favourite individuals were not elected.

“Those members who caused uproar, did not agree with the decision taken so they went berserk. They started throwing chairs around and a fight broke. I grabbed the package and in the package was attendance register, ballot papers and other important documents.

“One of the members saw me holding that package and he started to punch, kicked and hit me with a chair. He actually wanted to kill me because he hit me on my head several times before I used my hand to block the chair” Maroke outlines.

However the accused in this case who Maroke said he wanted to kill him, Baker Mosimege did not want to dwell on this matter and said it is very sensitive to talk about it through media.

“I do not want to comment for now because the matter is very sensitive. I would like us to address the matter through proper channels as this issue is very sensitive” Mosimege said.

The ANC in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region said they have received the reports and the matter will be dealt with soon.

“We have written the reports on the violence and disruption of the meeting. Also damage to property issue will be looked into and we will ensure that remedial action is undertaken” Mika Moeti who was a convenor at the meeting said.

The meeting was attended by Klerksdorp Mayor Micheal Khauoe and  Ontlametse Motshwari  who were deployed to oversee things.

Moeti said those who are responsible for violence against members and damage to property, will be dealt with harshly.

Maroke who is also a Personal Assistant to a newly-elected Chief Whip, Morutsile Olifant at Greater Taung Municipality added that the conference commenced smoothly afterwards even though he was rushed to the local hospital after a broken hand.

“The leadership was elected and the conference commenced smoothly afterwards. I was elected as the branch secretary and the representatives who will be attending Provincial Executive Committee conference next week were elected too” he said.

The criminal charges were laid against the accused and is expected to appear before Taung Magistrate Court on the 16th of February 2015.

-TDN

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