Protests flare up over Tshwane mayoral candidate, 3 officers injured

ANC members have taken to the streets to express dissatisfaction with the nomination of Thoko Didiza as the mayoral candidate for the party in Tshwane.

Tshwane Metro Police officers on a routine patrol came under fire as protesters allegedly pelted their car with stones, and then overturned the police car after the officers abandoned it. 

Superintendent Isaac Mahamba, Tshwane Metro Police spokesperson told City Press that during a routine patrol, metro police encountered the group of protesters at the corner of Beckett and Frances Baard streets.When the protesters threw stones at the police car, the officers “jumped out of the vehicle and ran”, and the protesters overturned the vehicle. 

When back-up arrived, the protesters had already fled the scene. Three officers had been injured and were taken to hospital.

According to News24, when a motorist tried to take photos of the protest the group grabbed the phone and destroyed it. Stones were also hurled at people living in nearby flats who were trying to take pictures.

News24 also reported today that there were two factions in the capital – one supported the incumbent mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa, who also happens to be the regional chairperson, and the other was in favour of his deputy, Mapiti Matsena.

The protesting party members said they wanted Ramokgopa to continue leading the city, even after the upcoming elections.

“They [branches] wanted the current mayor to serve for another term, but Thoko Didiza was imposed on them. They are very concerned about the decision,” a member said.

ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa told City Press that the party condemned the violence. 

“The perpetrators must be dealt with accordingly and ANC cannot be associated with such acts of crimes. 

“There is no justification for violence,” Kodwa added. 

He explained that the correct protocols were followed and the decision for the final nomination was made by the regional and provincial executive committees. 

“We spent the whole day yesterday discussing this and it doesn’t meant that if Ramokgopa’s name was on top of the list that he would be nominated, said Kodwa.

ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte said today that Ramokgopa was not on the list of three names that were submitted by the regional executive committee to the provincial executive committee regarding who should be the mayor.

“We have branches of the ANC here. They have a concern [with the nomination] because they were not consulted as branches,” one of the protesters told News24

“It’s still not known to us who the protesters were. A public violence case was opened at the Sunnyside police station. No arrests have been made so far,” Mahamba added.