SOWETO: Fights broke out yesterday in the South African township of Soweto between supporters of the ruling ANC party and activists from the opposition Democratic Alliance, less than a month before general elections.
Violence broke out after militant ANC supporters poured out of their houses to shout insults and throw stones and bottles at DA activists, witnesses at the scene said.
Between 1,500 and 2,000 DA supporters had gathered for a campaign rally in the township when the incident happened. Stewards struggled to contain the violence, with both sides coming to blows before the police stepped in. In February, the police had to intervene after molotov cocktails and bricks were thrown during a fight between supporters of the two rival parties.
ANC President Jacob Zuma is expected to win the May 7 elections, even though he has been forced onto the defensive recently over corruption claims related to multi-million dollar improvement works he made to his home, and for failing to drive down unemployment. AFP
