KwaZulu-Natal divisions in the African National Congress (ANC) were laid bare over the past two days in the Pietermaritzburg High Court in a case involving two ANC factions.

While provincial ANC chairperson, Sihle Zikalala, and Thulani Nyawose, the leader of the group challenging the legitimacy of the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), emphasised unity and reconciliation outside court, it was clear that the court case had become a platform to show support for the two front runners for the ANC presidential post.

Nyawose insisted that the court case was about justice and fairness to party members.

“This is not about former chairperson Senzo Mchunu or Sihle Zikalala but it is about seeing to it that party principles are followed properly, so people should not personalise the matter,” said Nyawose to supporters who were mainly clad in South African Communist Party’s red gear.

He appealed to supporters to return to branches and be part of the process of forging unity in the ruling party.

“We have no other home except the ANC and we owe it to ourselves to help in correcting the wrongs.”

The supporters for the members who took the PEC to court chanted pro-Mchunu slogans, while also giving an indication that they supported ANC Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, to be the next party president.

“We are here because we cannot allow our movement or country to be sold. What we are seeing right now is that our country has been put up for sale by the current leadership,“ a supporter said.

A few metres away and separated by at least four police vehicles, the pro-Zikalala crowd chanted slogans and was in full song demonstrating support of former African Union chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

“On your marks, get set, we are ready for Nkosazana” reverberated around the city centre.

The noise from the sound system had been so loud that it prompted calls from court officials to be turned off as it was disrupting proceedings.

ANC provincial spokesperson Mdumiseni Ntuli and ANC Youth League provincial secretary Mthokozisi Sabelo briefly left the court to instruct that the sound system be switched off. 

Zikalala urged supporters to hold discussions in their branches and not allow division.

“Even these comrades who have taken us to court must be welcomed and we must work for unity and not allow individuals with money to sow divisions to our movement,” he said.

The two sides declared that they would respect the outcome of the court case.