S.Africa’s ruling ANC offices torched in Marikana

Unknown arsonists Thursday torched a small office of the ruling ANC in Marikana, where police killed 34 miners in 2012, as campaigning for the May 7 election hot up, police said.

“Police are investigating a case of arson,” police spokesman Sabata Mokgwabona told SAPA news agency.

“The shack is reported to have been used as an office for a political party,” he added.

The ANC confirmed its office in Nkaneng informal settlement had been burnt.

No injuries were reported and police have not made any arrest.

In less than two weeks, South Africa goes to the polls in which President Jacob Zuma is seeking a second term.

This year’s vote comes as many South Africans are angry about the ANC-led administration’s handling of corruption cases, and the failure to create jobs and provide basic services like housing, among other grievances.

Marikana is home to some of the more than 80,000 platinum mine workers that have been on strike for three months demanding higher wages.

The work stoppage has crippled the world’s leading platinum sector and left its workers hungry and desperate.

Most of the workers belong to the radical Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) which has elbowed out the ANC-allied National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), to become the dominant union.

The new leftist Economic Freedom Fighters party of populist politician Julius Malema commands considerable support in Marikana.

Meanwhile, public broadcaster SABC reported that ANC supporters disrupted a campaign meeting that Malema was slated to address at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal.

The university is situated in the Kwa-Zulu Natal province, the fiefdom of ANC and Zuma’s home province.