As the race to the ANC electoral congress in Mangaung heats up, incidents of violence amongst members of the ruling party seem to be a daily occurrence, with many reported countrywide.

Vhembe was not spared either.

A nasty incident took place at Malamulele when members who disagreed on the preferred candidates in Mangaung physically settled the score. This has led the ANC leadership in Vhembe to appeal for calmness.

The call follows the appearance of its members in the magistrate’s court on charges of assault.

A scuffle at the Winston Zinjiva branch over the branch nominations to the Mangaung conference led to charges and counter-charges against members. A member of the Vhembe regional executive, Ms Frieda Nkondo, who is the principal at Mdanisi Primary School, laid a charge of assault against Mr Ronny Hlungwani, principal of Shigombe Primary, well-known businesswoman Ms Avhashoni Hlungwani, Malgas Mahange and Ms Gloria Shitlhelani, also a school principal.

Charges against the last three were later withdrawn.

Hlungwani, a senior Cosatu leader and leading activist for the Jacob Zuma-group, has also laid counter-charges of assault against Nkondo, sparking a belief by members of the community that this is just a political fight over Mangaung.

The regional secretary, Mr Khathu Netshifhefhe, said ANC members knew that any dispute that happened at an ANC meeting must be resolved by the ANC. “We will contact all the comrades and request them to refer their dispute to the ANC,” said Netshifhefhe.

The branch named after the late announcer of the ANC’s Radio Freedom, Mr Winston Zinziva Nkondo, has nominated Jacob Zuma for a second term as ANC president. Three Zuma supporters, including Chairman Lazarus Baloyi, were chosen as delegates to carry the branch’s mandate.

Meanwhile, there are allegations that problems surfaced during the branch’s general meeting to elect delegates, when supporters of Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, who were outnumbered, allegedly turned people away from the meeting, so the meeting could not form a quorum.

Both Hlungwani and Nkondo appeared in court before Magistrate Norman Maluleke before their cases were postponed. Leaders from the various ANC formations in Vhembe packed the little court room, forcing others to wait outside to hear the court’s verdict.

Addressing the supporters during an adjournment, branch chairperson Mr Lazarus Baloyi said the new trend of hauling each other before the courts was foreign to the ANC. “We know that if there are misunderstandings, internal ANC processes should be followed.  Taking each other to court is foreign to us and we have come to realise that those who are doing that are not familiar with ANC policies. They should just seek advice from senior comrades on how things are run in the ANC,” he said.

The two cases have been postponed to 7 December.