Cosatu asks ANC to take over

09 April 2014 - 02:01 By Kingdom Mabuza, Olebogeng Molatlhwa and Phetane Rapetswane
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
'BLACK BOER': Cyril Ramaphosa
'BLACK BOER': Cyril Ramaphosa
Image: The Times

Cosatu has effectively handed over control of its affairs to alliance partner the ANC as it battles to contain divisions that have paralysed it for nearly two years.

This follows a decision of the union federation's central executive committee yesterday to postpone its own efforts to calm discontent within the ranks and instead call for mediation by the ruling party.

The Times was reliably informed that the meeting was nearly scuppered because rival factions spent "a lengthy period" arguing about the adoption of the agenda.

In the lead-up to the committee meeting there have been expressions of discontent by some Cosatu-affiliated unions.

The representatives of one faction argued that adding to the agenda at the meeting would make it impossible for them to consult their members on what position to take on the additional items.

Mediation by ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa and deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte eventually succeeded.

The opposing factions could not agree on the holding of a special congress and the suspension of federation secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi and the National Union of Metalworkers of SA, his ally.

The faction aligned to Vavi reiterated its demand for a special congress to elect a new leadership.

The faction sympathetic to Cosatu president Sidumo Dlamini is against a special congress.

The Dlamini faction includes the National Union of Mineworkers, the SA Democratic Teachers' Union , the SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union.

They want Vavi's suspension to be re-imposed and Numsa to be expelled from the federation.

Numsa recently resolved that it would not support the ANC's election campaign.

A source close to yesterday's meeting said Ramaphosa succeeded in blocking the Dlamini faction from suspending Vavi and Numsa.

"Ramaphosa is not trusted by the other faction. Their concern is that [the] peace that Ramaphosa wants will only last until after the election," said the source.

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now