Blood flows at BMD congress
Onalenna Kelebeile | Saturday July 15, 2017 13:36
There were no official activities in the first half of the opening day as members from the two warring party factions (one headed by expelled President Ndaba Gaolathe and the other by Chairman Nehemiah Modubule) took turns to attack each using stones.
Modubule’s team had roped in an amateur security guard of about 50 men armed with sharp knives, sjamboks, stones and dogs to guard the main entrance to the school.
At least seven people were left injured during the pelting of stones that lasted for over an hour. In total there were three bouts of attacks. One person was rushed to Nyangabwe Referral Hospital (NRH) with severe head injuries.
The victim who is associated to Ndaba’s faction was initially placed on a life support machine at Bobonong Hospital before gaining stability.
Police only surfaced who were said to be on stand by nearby only surfaced when the third bout of fighting had subsided
It was clear that from the start that the official proceedings of the party will not take off smoothly. Leading to the congress it was speculated that both factions will bring parallel delegates.
Ndaba’s candidates labeled Modubule’s supporters rented delegates while the former maintained the contrary.
Gaolathe’s team arrived at the congress venue at Matshekge Secondary School in the morning and they were told that they are not eligible delegates. There was a heated exchange between Ndaba’s supporters and security guards which culminated into fighting.
Ndaba had earlier on pleaded with his supporters not to fight with Modubule’s team but return to their base camp at Bobonong Secondary to hold their own congress if they are not allowed access into the congress venue.
Following the intervention of the police both factions agreed to meet in order to iron up their differences so that congress proceedings can go on. The meeting lasted for nearly two hours and it was agreed that another meeting will be held later in the afternoon.