The Congress of SA Trade Union (Cosatu) in KwaZulu-Natal criticised ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe for his comments that the civil service strike should have been called off, not suspended.

“We note with disgust the irresponsible comment by the SG [Mantashe] of the ANC wherein he accused Cosatu on [its] role played in the strike... and his demand made that the strike should have been called off,” Cosatu KZN provincial secretary Zet Luzipho told a media briefing.

“We believe that those who balloted for the strike, and not Mantashe, have a right to call off the strike. We consider his statement as just mere grandstanding at the expense of such [a] sensitive issue,” Luzipho said.

On Tuesday, Mantashe said Cosatu, as the umbrella unions body, should not have become directly involved in wage negotiations.

All public sector unions should rather have had individual representatives at salary talks, he said.

He also asked why the unions had not called off the strike but opted to suspend it.