Scuffles, pepper spray leaves EFF delegates injured
Violence erupted on the second day of the Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) elective conference in Nasrec, south of Johannnesburg.
At least four people were injured following scuffles and running battles between security and delegates late on Saturday night.
Not less than 3 #EFFNPA2019 delegates have been taken away by ambulance following a scuffle and pepper spray use by DOR at the dining hall. pic.twitter.com/0TSHcbCYOq
— Dr. Mshengu Nurkovic (@Mshengu_1) December 14, 2019
One of the EFF marshals allegedly used pepper spray on red berets members while they were waiting on dinner.
EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi says all the members are in good health.
"We are still trying to get t the bottom of it, but one of our marshalls seems to have dispatched a pepper spray on a number of delegates who were on the line queuing for dinner and that caused a lot of people to be harmed. Some who were asthmatic, some who are pregnant.
"All of them were attended to on time. They are all in good health. They were taken to Baragwanath.”
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Ndlozi says the suspected has been sent packing.
"We have not gotten to understand particulars, we will have to interrogate members. People say that it was over an unprovoked situation, people were flowing on the lines and he wanted something that could have been properly communicated and because he was not getting some cooperation then he dispatched pepper spray.
"But some other accounts say it was an accident in which it dropped on the floor on its own."
Ndlozi says both versions will be investigated.