Members of the Sinugani branch of the ANC toyi-toyied in front the Sinugani branch secretary's and ward councillor's house on Sunday afternoon at Ha-Magau village in the Sinthumule area.

The group, comprised largely of women, demonstrated in front Cllr Selinah Mamatsiari's house at Ha-Magau village. They sang political songs, which were meant to unsettle and upset the Ward 23 councillor. One song in particular said that Mamatsiari joined the ANC because she was hungry and needed an opportunity to fill her greedy stomach. The only placard which the demonstrators carried read: “Fhasi nga u sa da mitanganoni fhasi (Down with the tactics of not attending meetings, down)”.

The group was led by Sinugani branch chairperson Mr Enos Mutepe, who stated that Mamatsiari's refusal to attend branch executive committee meetings (BEC) and branch general meetings (BGM) led to the unhappiness. “She hasn't attended a meeting on three occasions and we felt that this time around we had to go and hold our branch general meeting at her home,” said Mutepe on Sunday. “Mamatsiari's behaviour only tells us that she doesn't want to adhere to the ANC constitution with regard to branch meetings.”

Mutepe added that Mamatsiari did not consult with the branch when she took certain decisions. He further accused her of not reporting back to the community when she had attended council meetings. He said people were not informed about the integrated development plan (IDP). “We are passing a motion of no confidence against her as a branch secretary and ward councillor, because she is irresponsible,” said Mutepe. “She holds no respect for the people who voted her in.”

However, the ANC regional secretary, Mr Khathu Netshifhefhe, was appalled and shocked by the behaviour of the Sinugani branch members who toyi-toyied in front the councillor's house. “If an executive member of the ANC branch fails to attend meetings at least three times in a row, as they are alleging, the branch knows the right channels of communication to follow,” said Netshifhefhe on Tuesday. “It's strange and uncommon for ANC members to go and demonstrate in front of an ANC councillor's home. We'll investigate the matter and disciplinary action might be taken against those who are in the wrong.”

Cllr Mamatsiari says that the toyi-toying has nothing to do with her not coming to meetings, because the deputy secretary always attends the meeting in cases where she (Mamatsiari) has sent an apology. She states that the whole thing was orchestrated by former Ward 23 councillor Jeanet Matumba. “I am now living in fear because of Matumba and her followers,” she said. “I hear that she used her car to deliver the people to toyi-toyi in front of my house. But I'll use the relevant channels to address this issue with the ANC regional office.”

Mamatsiari's daughter, Fulufhelo, witnessed the demonstration from behind the fence of her home. She said that she did not wish to see the violence and damage to property, as seen in the national media, happen to her home. “My 16-year-old nephew has been experiencing nightmares after those people had come here,” she said. “I'm worried because he's about to write exams. How is he going to concentrate? They said they were coming back.”