It is understood that there is unhappiness among ANC members in the region‚ as Didiza was not the candidate nominated by branches. Didiza was the compromise candidate after contention over who should lead the metro for the ANC.
Protests erupted in Hatfield on Monday afternoon‚ and spread to Mamelodi.
The latest area to follow suit is Atteridgeville where protesters have blocked off the main entrance into the area with rocks and burning tyres on Monday night.
There were also unconfirmed reports of 10 city buses on fire at the Mamelodi East depot on Monday night.
Earlier‚ a Tshwane Metro Police department marked vehicle was overturned and metro officials injured‚ allegedly by angry ANC members in Hatfield. A few hours later‚ a City of Tshwane car was smashed with stones and set alight by residents in Mamelodi.
Residents of Atteridgeville have set the area alight‚ blocking motorists’ entry into the area.
Social media was abuzz following news of the latest protests in Atteridgeville.
Nurswan ?@NurSwan said: “Eish! #Tshwane is on fire. All because of a mayor nomination. #ThokoDidiza #TshwaneUnrest #Mamelodi #Atteridgeville #Soshanguve.”
Mpho Mathoho ?@Maxmpho wrote: “Things are getting worse in Pretoria after Thoko Didiza was named as incoming Mayor. Now Atteridgeville is on fire… Politics in SA.”
Another user Thug Poet ?@keith–sweatin said: “Its wild wild west in Atteridgeville‚ ANC supporters running amok kubi!.”
Koketso @The–KK said: “My hood is in flames.. No mayor shall be imposed on the people!”
The Democratic Alliance’s mayoral candidate Solly Msimanga tweeted: “Now Atteridgeville is also on fire. Why wouldn’t these people take their fights to Luthuli House & leave the residents in peace?”
Msimanga is scheduled to return to his childhood home in Atteridgeville for a news briefing on Tuesday‚ to share his personal vision for a renewed City of Tshwane.
Meanwhile, in a media statement after the NEC Special sitting recently, the ANC said its “satisfied and confident that these Mayoral candidates presented consists of some of the best comrades amongst our ranks to advance our programme of radical socio-economic transformation”.
“The ANC calls on all its structures and our communities to support them as they lead us to an overwhelming victory for the ANC in the Local Government elections. We extend our gratitude to many of our comrades who are currently serving as Mayors for their loyal service to the movement and the people of South Africa.
The ANC has been on the ground interacting with our people across the length and breadth of our country. We have no doubt that South Africans, in their overwhelming majority, will renew the mandate of the ANC to build on the solid foundation over the last 15 years of democratic local governance,” reports Sydney Morweng, news editor.
