On Sunday ANC leaders got together to announce Thoko Didiza as the mayoral candidate for SA’s other capital city, but as has become custom at ANC political gatherings, violence soon broke out.

IOL reports that four men in a white Polo sans license plates parked outside the function venue, casually strolled over to a group of party members standing outside and opened fire. It is believed that one person was shot dead before the gunmen – one wearing an ANC t-shirt – fled to nearby flats. Two party members were also rushed to hospital after being attacked with pangas and golf clubs.

Angry ANC members were picketing outside the gathering, shouting that the ANC’s regional deputy chair Mapiti Matsena would ‘get what was coming to him’, with some members holding placards saying #MapitiMustFall and #SputlaMustRise.

Soon after the attack, other ANC members seeking retribution went on a rampage, damaging nearby property and threatening journalists, saying they’ll confiscate their equipment.

“We want no journalists. We’ll take your camera and break it,” an ANC member told Simone Heradien, deputy chair of the National Press Club and content manager at Rekord newspaper.

What’s even more worrying is that the SAPS prevented journalists from accessing the area and taking pictures – a right protected under Standing Order 156 of the South African Police Service, allowing journalists to photograph police officers and anything at a crime scene as long as it is outside the crime scene tape.