Questionable forces influencing youth: Cosatu

The youth are being influenced by questionable forces, Cosatu President Sdumo Dlamini says.

“Our youth are pulled by all sorts of questionable forces and we need to find ways to isolate the agenda that seeks to set the movement against its own people,” he said.

He was addressing members of the Chemical Workers Industrial Union and the Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union.

Dlamini said if the progressive forces failed to provide answers to the people, they would turn to demagogues who would tap their anger and energy for use against the democratic government.

“One practical example is what we have been observing happening around Luthuli House,” he said.

Cosatu was observing the African National Congress (ANC) disciplinary hearing process with interest, he said.

“We want to commend the ANC leadership for acting within the parameters of their own constitutional processes, not based on pressure from any quarter which may have devious motives,” he said.

There was violence during the start of the ANC Youth League president Julius Malema's disciplinary hearing in Johannesburg on Tuesday. At least six journalists were hit by stones.

The youth burnt posters and t-shirts bearing pictures of President Jacob Zuma's face.

Dlamini said Cosatu's responsibility was to ensure that ANC leaders elected in Polokwane succeeded in implementing programmes.

“We must therefore expose any agenda that seeks to blacken these leaders into political timidity and paralysis.”