ANC general secretary Gwede Mantashe and Cosatu boss Zwelinzima Vavi used a congress of a union as a battleground to widen the rift between the two former political allies.
Addressing the national congress of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) in Boksburg, Mantashe yesterday said it was “misguided” to say the ANC wanted to turn Cosatu into the ruling party’s labour desk.
“If we wanted a labour desk, the ANC would form it,” said Mantashe.
A few minutes later, when Vavi addressed the same gathering, having listened to Mantashe, the embattled Cosatu general secretary hit back.
“We must defend our federation from being reduced to a sweetheart labour desk, and we must protect the public protector because their attack is not in our interest as workers,” he said.
Mantashe and Vavi have for long been at loggerheads over the way the latter runs Cosatu, saying he had turned it into an opposition against the ANC. Vavi said Cosatu was on the brink of being irrelevant, particularly among young workers who were not attached to its history.
He said Cosatu was undergoing a leadership war and called on Denosa to refuse to be used in the process.
“Don’t allow yourselves to be used for short-term political gains.”
Mantashe, together with an ANC intervention into Cosatu’s crisis, has previously rejected a call for a special congress, saying it was disingenuous given the fact that the federation has a normal conference scheduled for next year. Vavi’s defence of Madonsela was also in reply to Mantashe and the SACP’s attacks on the public protector for recommending that President Jacob Zuma pay a portion of the money spent on his private house in the name of security upgrades.
SA Communist Party leader Blade Nzimande, who also spoke at the gathering, lambasted Vavi’s supporters, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) for dumping the ANC, saying it was an “infantile move”.
Vavi and Mantashe use congress to settle scores
Addressing the national congress of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) in Boksburg, Mantashe yesterday said it was “misguided” to say the ANC wanted to turn Cosatu into the ruling party’s labour desk.
“If we wanted a labour desk, the ANC would form it,” said Mantashe.
A few minutes later, when Vavi addressed the same gathering, having listened to Mantashe, the embattled Cosatu general secretary hit back.
“We must defend our federation from being reduced to a sweetheart labour desk, and we must protect the public protector because their attack is not in our interest as workers,” he said.
Mantashe and Vavi have for long been at loggerheads over the way the latter runs Cosatu, saying he had turned it into an opposition against the ANC. Vavi said Cosatu was on the brink of being irrelevant, particularly among young workers who were not attached to its history.
He said Cosatu was undergoing a leadership war and called on Denosa to refuse to be used in the process.
“Don’t allow yourselves to be used for short-term political gains.”
Mantashe, together with an ANC intervention into Cosatu’s crisis, has previously rejected a call for a special congress, saying it was disingenuous given the fact that the federation has a normal conference scheduled for next year. Vavi’s defence of Madonsela was also in reply to Mantashe and the SACP’s attacks on the public protector for recommending that President Jacob Zuma pay a portion of the money spent on his private house in the name of security upgrades.
SA Communist Party leader Blade Nzimande, who also spoke at the gathering, lambasted Vavi’s supporters, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) for dumping the ANC, saying it was an “infantile move”.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos