Alex Matlala

Alex Matlala

An argument that nearly led to a fist fight between members of Cope and the ANC erupted at an election meeting in GaThako near Tzaneen on Sunday.

Cope premier-candidate Sello Moloto and former ANC chief whip in the greater Tzaneen municipality and now Cope bigwig Molebatse Masedi were told by angry villagers at the meeting to go to the "nearest hell and recruit Satan" before recruiting them to vote for Cope.

This was after Moloto accused the ANC-led government of corruption and not having the interests of communities at heart.

A sizeable number of unruly people went into a classroom at Malemela Primary School and demanded that both Masedi and Moloto leave the venue as they were vilifying the ANC.

Police were called to the venue to restore order. The group was removed from the hall and the meeting continued.

Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, Masedi said: "A group of drunkards were brought in to disrupt our meeting. We have also learnt that the same people remove our placards each time we put them up."

ANC member and Ward 9 councillor Masilo Maloko said Moloto and Masedi were both members of the government they were criticising.

Moloto and IEC provincial boss Nkaro Mateta were both taken to a place of safety after ANC members blocked Moloto from getting to the podium during a debate.