Nominations turn bloody

THE ANC's nomination process has turned bloody, with shots being fired between waring factions in North West over dissenting views about who to support at the party's elective conference next month.

An unidentified regional leader was arrested yesterday after a chaotic branch general meeting held at Magogong Primary School in Taung at the weekend for allegedly shooting at Ogopoleng Semao.

Sowetan understands that a group believed to be lobbying for President Jacob Zuma marched to the venue and tried to disrupt the meeting, which they believed would put its weight behind his deputy Kgalema Motlanthe.

Sowetan also understands that this emanated from a parallel structure that had been formed, but was forced to dissolve after auditing processes by Luthuli House.

Confirming the shooting, police spokesman Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said a quarrel ensued outside the school and a shot was fired, hitting Semao in the chest. He was rushed to the Taung District Hospital before being transferred to the Kimberley Hospital where his condition remains serious.

A regional executive member is said to have run away after the shooting.

Ngubane said he was arrested in Vryburg and would appear in the Taung Magistrate's Court today to face charges of attempted murder, pointing of firearm and unlawful possession of firearm.

A member of the ANCYL in Taung claimed nominations in the region have been marred by violence, with members intimidated by groups aligned to provincial chairman Supra Mahumapelo - who is known to be a staunch Zuma supporter.

The ANC in North West has endorsed Zuma to serve a second term, pointing to the importance of maintaining a status quo.

The shooting comes as ANC veterans in Limpopo plea for branch members to desist from violent acts and intimidation.

"Let us contest the ANC leadership and claim no one's blood as has been the case with previous regimes that had been established on the trail of blood," said its president Sandile Sijake.