Elijar Mushiana

Elijar Mushiana

ANC chairman in Limpopo Cassel Mathale lambasted members of the party's youth league and SA Students Congress for disrupting a meeting organised by supporters of the party's former national chairman Mosiuoa Lekota.

Mathale, expected to replace Sello Moloto after next year's elections, is the second senior ANC leader after President Kgalema Motlanthe to criticise political intolerance by members of the ruling party against Lekota's supporters.

He was reacting to the weekend disruption of a meeting addressed by the convener of the "convention" in Limpopo, Solly Mkhatshwa. Angry ANCYL and Sasco members allegedly forced their way into the Tshilidzini Uniting Reformed Church near Thohoyandou, where the meeting was held.

Singing youths allegedly forced their way into the church and broke up the meeting. Some were allegedly wearing Mathale and Jacob Zuma T-shirts, carrying placards that read "100% Zuma" .

Mkhatshwa was allegedly forced to stop his address and police were called in to calm the situation . Police allegedly failed to act against the youths and the meeting had to be called off.

Speaking during the exhumation of the remains of four former MK cadres at Tshikota Cemetery on Monday, Mathale said the ANC did not support those people who disrupted Mkhatshwa's meeting.

"We live in a democratic country where people can do what they want without being disrupted. Please, let us join hands and focus on our organisation," he said.

Mkhatshwa blamed the police for failing to take action to stop those who disrupted the gathering.