Luthuli House stand-off

STAFF WRITERS

Bricks were hurled, rubber bullets fired and flags burnt by jeering protesters and water cannon spewed icy jets as crowds ran amok outside Luthuli House this morning.

Police fought hard to control a mob of hundreds of ANC Youth League supporters who defied calls by their leaders to protest peacefully.

The youth league’s leadership has condemned the violence, calling on its members to “exercise maximum discipline and do so in a peaceful manner, with regard and respect to the ANC process”.

As the violence escalated, cops turned a water cannon on rioting supporters of youth league president Julius Malema, reducing them to a chanting mob in the Library Gardens.

The angry crowd, who by 9.30am were running around wildly and toyi-toying, some burning ANC flags and T-shirts bearing images of President Jacob Zuma, were protesting against the disciplinary charges being faced by Malema today.

Barbed wire barricades were quickly rolled out along President Street, separating the protesters from Luthuli House.

Bottles, stones and other hard objects were hurled at police.

e.tv withdrew its news crew from the area by 9.35am. Shaky footage up to that point showed youths on a rampage, and the channel feared for the crew’s safety.

Protesters stole one of their audio cables.

Other journalists darted in and out of the mob, taking cover when protesters pelted them with stones and bottles. The protesters used bricks meant for the construction of the Rea Vaya lanes in Harrison Street to attack the police.

eNews had to shift planned interviews because its satellite van was damaged and more riot police were dropped off in President Street where water cannon and rubber bullets were used on the crowd.

Malema and ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe had called for restraint. The two had said disciplinary charges against the youth league top brass should be treated as an internal ANC matter.

Malema, however, also asked police to allow his supporters to express their support without any interference while Mantashe appealed to them not to voice their complaints in the media.

But the youth league supporters ignored the calls and a group mainly from Limpopo made a failed attempt to storm into Luthuli House.

They blamed Zuma and Mantashe for the charges against Malema and five of the league’s senior leaders.

Some of their placards read: “Zuma u’r time 2 leave Da office has past”, “JZ & Gwede the ANC is not your private entity” and “Using the DC to suppress our views is being cowards”.

Streets around the ANC headquarters were blockaded and traffic through the CBD was diverted.

ANC spokesman Keith Khoza said disciplinary charges against the six youth league leaders would continue regardless, and that the aim was to communicate to party members that “the issue of a disciplinary committee is essentially not a media issue or an issue to be discussed outside the process”.

“So he (Mantashe) is cautioning people to say it does not help the process if these statements are made outside,” he explained.

Asked whether his words were directed at Malema, who yesterday called an urgent press conference to speak about his appearance this morning, Khoza said it was not.

Malema said the charges were an attempt to stamp out the call for the nationalisation of mines.

Khoza could not confirm whether Zuma, who left the country yesterday for a four-day state visit to Norway, attended yesterday’s meeting of ANC top brass.

Youth league supporters, who started gathering in the city from yesterday, called on ANC deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe to take over as president, and Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula to replace Mantashe as secretary-general.

The most vocal supporters had come from Malema’s home province of Limpopo and arrived at dawn. Police turned them away, but as the numbers grew a second attempt was made to reach Luthuli House. Police again blocked them.

Supporters also said there were plans to bus in pupils from Soweto to show their support for Malema.

Charles Phahlane, spokesman for the Gauteng Department of Education, said officials were trying to ascertain whether that was true.

Meanwhile, calls have been made for Malema’s hearing to be held behind closed doors, with the internal procedure remaining dignified and respectful of the “standing traditions” of the ANC.

He and the five executive members will be represented by top Joburg counsel.

Patric Mtshaulana SC confirmed yesterday he would be appearing for them.

Mtshaulana, a founder of the Duma Nokwe Group of advocates, said he could not speak for his colleague, Terry Motau SC, who, it is understood, has also been retained to defend the league leaders. Motau did not respond to messages last night.

Beyond confirming that |he would be appearing, Mtshaulana declined to discuss the case. The former Umkhonto we Sizwe combatant said he was “not at liberty” to discuss the charges against the league top brass “because of the sensitivities of the matter”.

“I am not wanting to give the impression that my client is trying to run the matter through the press.”

Malema faces the disciplinary committee today, while league spokesman Floyd Shivambu is to appear tomorrow, followed by deputy president Ronald Lamola, secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa, his deputy, Kenetswe Mosenogi, and treasurer Pule Mabe on Thursday.