The Congress of the People (Cope) in KwaZulu-Natal want the ruling party to reimburse them for disrupting their branch meeting, or they will take the matter to the Public Protector or the Small Claims Court.

On November 13, Cope held a branch meeting in Verulam which was disrupted, allegedly by ANC members.

Cope provincial secretary Phillip Mhlongo said in a statement they wanted to be reimbursed for booking the hall, hiring electronic equipment and for the flight of their leader Terror Lekota to and from Durban.

Mhlongo said people wearing t-shirts bearing the image of ANC president Jacob Zuma arrived in a Durban Metro vehicle, forced their way into the hall, sang and threw chairs around.

"People had to duck for cover because chairs were flying all over.
This was more than just an act of barbarism... They must give us back the money we used for that meeting," said Mhlongo.

He also accused the ANC of misusing eThekwini municipality resources for "own political needs".

Mhlongo wrote a letter detailing their party's grievances to Durban city manager Dr Mike Sutcliffe and Mayor Obed Mlaba on November 27 and demanded a response within seven days.

In the letter, he said, Mhlongo provided the registration number of the Durban Metro vehicle in question and even revealed who it belonged to.

He described the ruling party supporters as "ANC hooligans".

"They have not yet responded and if we don't get anything by the end of the week, we will take action," Mhlongo said.

ANC provincial secretary Senzo Mchunu was not immediately available for comment.