Zuma: Alliance dying

President Jacob Zuma has called for discussions about the weakening of the ANC-led alliance with the SA Communist Party and union federation Cosatu.

"We cannot continue [like this]," he said yesterday, speaking to thousands of people in Ventersdorp, North West, at the reburial service of struggle icon JB Marks.

"You are not aware how much our enemies are mobilising to destroy us. If we are divided, we are easy prey."

Zuma said the divisions in the alliance needed urgent attention.

"With the arrival of the two [Marks and Moses Kotane], all of us in the ANC, SACP and Cosatu are going to turn a new page.

"Perhaps the central committees of all the three must have a joint meeting to discuss the needs of the alliance . not just [for] one day . we should go away for the whole week."

Marks, who was president of the Transvaal branch of the ANC and a chairman of the SACP, worked for the ANC in Tanzania. In 1971 he went to Russia, where he died of a heart attack the following year.

This month his remains were returned to this country, together with those of another struggle hero, Kotane, who also died in Russia.

Divisions within the alliance have worsened during Zuma's administration.

Cosatu has been torn apart and has expelled its biggest affiliate, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA. Workers have said that the federation has ignored their concerns.

There are regular public spats within the alliance, many of them reportedly between supporters and opponents of Zuma.

Zuma said the unwillingness of the leaders of the members of the alliance to work together on political and ideological grounds was dividing the movement.

"Unconsciously, you are dividing the movement. If I have a clear understanding I can't be party to disunity. Leaders cannot resist when they are being called to come together as one. [But] they resist because they have very strong views about so and so."

Something had to be done urgently to protect the unity of the alliance, Zuma said.

"If the ANC is the leader of the alliance, be ready for a very serious instruction of this [special] meeting.

"We need to talk [at the special meeting] about things we cannot talk about in public. Things talked about in corridors, we need to talk about these things openly in the meeting. I think the time has come."

The service in Ventersdorp was attended by cabinet members, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, Cosatu leaders and representatives of the Russian embassy.