The power struggle between ANC and EFF in Brakpan becomes violent

Clashes between members of the EFF and ANC broke out last week in the former Brakpan neighborhood, reports GroundUp.

A meeting at the Brakpan Police Station attempted to find a solution to the escalation of tension. The EFF has registered people and badigned them land to occupy in Brakpan. Thousands of people have registered

Brandon Pretorius, AD Advisor for the region, opposed the occupation on the grounds that it was illegal. The metro police have repeatedly destroyed shacks erected through the EFF land allocations.

Residents who witnessed the fighting said that ANC members felt threatened that the EFF would win more supporters.

However, ANC members in Old Brakpan denied allegations that they were not acting in their political capacity, but as residents. (They asked that their names not be published.)

Judicial Restrictions on Occupations

Some residents claim to have occupied land before the EFF was involved, and opposed to the role of the EFF in occupations "We suffer because of infighting between the EFF and the ANC in the informal colony, it is a battle for power and we are caught in the middle", said Ice Izingozo. He has been living in this informal camp for two years. He says that throughout this period, none of the promises made by the EFF or the ANC has borne fruit.

He says that the FEP land registration system upsets a court agreement that, according to Izingozo, limits other occupations in Old Brakpan. place, pending the finalization of a trial that the first occupiers had brought.

AVIS: ANC, EFF battle for rural votes transforming the land process into tragicomedy

Wednesday, cabins belonging to new occupants who had rebuilt them after Police Demonstration

Witnesses testified that a few days ago, angry residents also destroyed a cabin that the FEP members used as an office, as well as huts belonging to Sesi Ndlovu, president of the FEP. EFF Ward 97 and his mother-in-law. Another cabin belonging to another member of the EFF was slightly damaged.

"When I saw the crowd singing around the hut of our secretary, I had the impression that they could follow me too," said Kedibone Selowa, a member of EFF. living in the area

EFF & # 39; playing games desperate & # 39;

Selowa said that people held weapons and Molotov badtails. A man suspected by the community of being affiliated with the EFF has been attacked, she said.

After seeing the secretary's cabin burning from afar, she says that she decided to flee before reaching her cabin.

I ran for my life and later they arrived at my cabin, but did not do much harm when I saw that I had fled. "

A few days later, a cabin owned by an ANC member was set on fire by unknown badailants.

" ANC members living in the area influenced members of the ANC the community, they want the land allocation to benefit them, the ANC knows that people reject them and lack strategies, "said Vice President Ekurhuleni Mandla Moloko

Moloko says the EFF is currently negotiating with community members and the police to help Ndlovu and other FEP members return to the informal camp.

Meanwhile, Pretorius says the community uprising is coming. 19659002] "The EFF has been playing desperate games by intimidating people at the Old Brakpan location to gain momentum. The community has realized that the behavior of the FEP is chaotic and can ruin their only chances of getting the developed land.

Pretorius also stated that the EFF had disturbed a meeting on Sunday when he intended to address the old city of Brakpan residents.