WATCH | Fists and chairs fly as ANC delegates brawl at ECape conference

Police had to intervene when ANC members and delegates attending the Eastern Cape elective conference at East London ICC turned on each other, with fists and chair flying across the venue.

Supporters of Phumulo Masualle and Oscar Mabuyane exchanged blows inside the conference venue with the fight spilling outside as the former’s supporters fled for their lives.

Scores of delegates were injured and ambulances rushed into the ICC to attend to those that needed emergency services.

Several outgoing provincial executive committee (PEC) members, including Masualle and former ANCYL deputy president Andile Lungisa, were whisked away by security.

All these events unfolded in the wee hours of this morning and saw 755 delegates believed to be pro-Masualle fleeing the venue, leaving behind 951 who were predominantly rooting for Mabuyane.

ANC national spokesman Zizi Kodwa condemned the violence.

“It’s unheard of in the ANC that such an incident would happen in the ANC conference. We have tried to abolish what’s called slates and factionalism, that is to an extent to which factionalism was so entrenched,” Kodwa said.

“We are a democratic organisation what we are beginning to see is people who are prepared to contest but they are not prepared to lose.”

After calm was restored inside with the 755 outside, the conference continued as credentials were adopted and they moved to nominations and voting without the likes of Masualle, who were nominated being not in the house.

This morning with voting already having happened, well-known lawyer and ANC member Mvuzo Notyesi served court papers to the conference to interdict it’s continuity.

The results of the new ANC PEC top five will be announced at 10am with Mabuyane expected to emerge new provincial chairman.

Lulama Ngcukayithobi is likely to be voted in the new provincial secretary.

ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the closing address of the conference after announcement of results.

- DispatchLIVE with additional reporting by Siyamtanda Capa (HeraldLIVE)