Alex Matlala

Alex Matlala

Members of the Congress of the People yesterday threatened to take the law into their hands if police fail to arrest ANC members who attacked them on Saturday.

Cope's Limpopo spokesperson Willy Mokwalakwala said police had not arrested ANC members who had attacked them while they campaigned metres from ANC Youth League president Julius Malema's house in Seshego.

Mokwalakwala said they had opened cases of crimen injuria, assault and malicious damage to property against the ANCYL members, but three days later, no arrests had been made.

He said the delay proved that political parties such as the ANC were above the law. He also said that if their attackers were not arrested by tomorrow, they would also take the law in their own hands.

Mokwalakwala cited three incidents in which Cope members where attacked, allegedly by members of the ANC.

In the first incident, their members where attacked and their posters torn in Venda a fortnight ago.

A ward councillor in the Levhubu area, Joas Murovhi, was arrested, but later released.

In the second incident, a Cope member was assaulted and his T-Shirt torn in Schoenoord in Sekhukhune. No arrest has been made.

In the third incident, on Saturday, five people belonging to Cope were assaulted, allegedly by known ANC Youth League members.

The incident happened during a campaign behind Malema's house. A group allegedly tore T-Shirts with pictures of Cope leaders, calling them names before assaulting them.

The windscreens and mirrors of two cars where also damaged.

Provincial police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Motlafela Mojapelo said yesterday that the alleged perpetrators had been identified and that an arrest could be made soon.