A 9-year-old girl and two other people were shot and injured during a confrontation between EFF and ANC members in Limpopo at the Juju Valley squatter camp, outside Polokwane yesterday. The incident happened when the ANC went to campaign in the area which was named after Julius Malema in Seshego.
SEVERAL PEOPLE INJURED
Limpopo SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ditjutle Molepo confirmed the incident. "Police in Limpopo are currently investigating cases of attempted murder after a violent incident occurred during political party campaigns at Juju Valley in Seshego policing area on Sunday. The incident resulted in two individuals, including a minor, sustaining gunshot wounds," Molepo said adding that the violence erupted during a campaign event between rival political parties, leading to an escalation that endangered the life of the young girl and a bystander. "The police and emergency medical services responded swiftly to the scene, providing immediate assistance to the minor girl and commencing a thorough investigation into the matter. Another case was later reported after it was established that a 25-year-old man was shot during the scuffle," he said. Molepo said that several other people sustained injuries after the members pelted each other with stones and several shots were fired. "There is a possibility of more cases being reported as investigations unfold," said Molepo.
A NO-GO AREA FOR ANC?
According to community members, EFF feel like the ANC should not be allowed in the area as the Polokwane municipality which is under the ANC refused to recognise the area, which is less than 10-year-old. The informal settlement is a privately owned land which the EFF leader Julius ,who is also from Seshego, called for those who have been waiting for housing to occupy in 2016, shortly after the red berets won ward 13 during the 2016 local elections. The land was unoccupied for years. The municipality later said the area would be added to the status quo as an item for reflection in order to be considered for future development.
ANC CALLS FOR CALM
ANC Limpopo provincial secretary Jimmy Machaka has called for calm. "The ANC in Limpopo is disturbed by the conduct of the EFF members supporters in Limpopo. We strongly believe that there should be peace and harmony in Limpopo and South Africa as a whole and what happened in Juju Valley is a disgrace. Members of the EFF should understand that violence in South Africa and Limpopo is not tolerated even when a party loses political ground. We fully understand that the EFF is pained by the fact that it has been losing ground in the province wherein is has lost more than 3000 members in four weeks and now takes out its frustrations to the ANC innocent souls," he said.
EFF provincial chairperson Tshilidzi Maraga said she was still gathering information from the person who was at the event. "He is not picking up," she said.
