Election violence spreads to North West town

Violence over the choice of mayoral candidates has now gone beyond the borders of Tshwane.

TMG Digital understand that last night a community hall in Mmakau was set alight by angry residents who are allegedly protesting about a mayoral candidate.

The violence continued today as people started looting foreign-owned shops in the township. This forced police to ask all the foreign shop owners in the township and parts of Brits to close their shops as a precaution.

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Madibeng Municipality‚ which is in North West‚ is not far from Garankuwa‚ one of the townships which have been hit by violent protest this week.

Since Monday‚ Tshwane residents have been protesting over ANC decision to announce former public works minister Thoko Didiza as the city’s mayoral candidate for the August 3 local government elections.

Meanwhile‚ the ANC in the Northern Cape has conceded that it has also had its own share of hurdles in the candidate selection process.

The party’s provincial executive committee is to meet over the weekend to discuss nominations after the National Executive Committee gave it additional time to conclude the process. Some disgruntled members in the province claim the process has been rigged.

ANC spokesperson in the province Naledi Gaosekwe told Eyewitness News that the impact of this unhappiness had been minimal.

“Some branches have received the lists maturely and there are members who understand the selection process. It has not been a smooth sailing process‚ but they have been received very well‚” she said.