'Cosatu's head on block too'

Cosatu has resolved not to abandon the ANC-led alliance, but warned that it risked being "discredited" among workers if the ruling party failed to deliver on its promises to the poor.

The labour federation's four-day central committee meeting, in Midrand, failed to reach consensus on key policy and political issues, with clear differences among leaders.

Important discussions of the contentious New Growth Path, land reform and nationalisation of key sectors of the economy were deferred until August, when Cosatu's central executive committee will meet behind closed doors to iron out the differences.

Cosatu chose to steer clear of the ANC succession debate, arguing that opening the discussion prematurely would distract the alliance from the crucial responsibility of improving the lives of the poor.

Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi told reporters yesterday the federation would also be held responsible if the ANC government failed to deliver.

"[ANC succession in] 2012 must be debated in that context, it can't be just about the race for who is going to be the leader 18 months before the [party's national] conference.

"That's divisiveness.

"Can we focus on ensuring that by the time we go to the 2014 [elections] we can show [our people] that we have succeeded in implementing the five priorities," he said.

Unemployment, poverty and inequality would be the main areas of accountability on which the ANC government would be tested, said Vavi.

"Not that we will not evaluate leadership . but please, not now. Let's just make sure we succeed in addressing the crisis of poverty and unemployment and inequality. That's the crisis of South Africa and not anything else," he said.

"Failure to do so [means] we all get discredited . not [just] the ANC . including Cosatu, which has been asking the workers to go and vote for the ANC. That is what we are trying to avoid at all costs."

Vavi said Cosatu remained convinced that the New Growth Path document was not comprehensive in dealing with the needs of the working class.

The Cosatu meeting adopted a resolution to remain within the alliance, saying other scenarios - abandoning the alliance or forming a new left-wing political party - were not what the federation wanted.

However, it warned that failure of the alliance "remained a threat" because workers were "disillusioned".

Cosatu president Sidumo Dlamini insisted that there were no differences among the federation's leaders but rather democratic discussions that allowed for differing opinions among Cosatu affiliates .