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Cosatu was wrong to back Zuma – Dlamini

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Sdumo Dlamini
Sdumo Dlamini

Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini has admitted that it was wrong for the trade federation to endorse President Jacob Zuma as ANC president in the period leading up to the Polokwane conference.

Dlamini said this was in breach of the alliance’s protocols.

“As things stand, I don’t anticipate that Cosatu will publicly endorse anyone at the next ANC conference.

“Yes, there will be lobbying across alliance partners, but we won’t pronounce,” he said.

This admission is unlikely to cool tempers in what is expected to be a tense special national congress, which starts tomorrow at Gallagher Estate in Midrand.

The uncritical support of Zuma upset expelled general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the other nine affiliates who have boycotted Cosatu activities over the past few months.

The congress is expected to be fiercely divided, between Vavi and Dlamini supporters.

Vavi’s supporters – led by Numsa – will be hoping to force elections so Dlamini can be removed – but Dlamini says the congress is not an elective one.

In its discussion document on unity and cohesion, the federation details how the then central committee was convened unconstitutionally in 2009 to discuss the next leader of its ally, the ANC.

“This was an open constitutional breach which was ignored ... and in breach of the alliance protocols of respecting other alliance partners’ electoral process,” it reads.

Dlamini said it was unprecedented for Cosatu to do something that would inevitably cause divisions within the congress.

He also complained that in 2012 there was blatant disregard of Cosatu’s decisions when “some people went to Nkandla” to lobby for the former general secretary.

This related to allegations that Numsa boss Irvin Jim asked Zuma to consider Vavi for a position in the ANC top six.

Meanwhile, Cosatu’s current leaders are likely to be scrutinised on whether they are still capable of leading the organisation at the two-day special national congress this week.

Dlamini said while the special congress was not an elective one, delegates could pass a motion of no confidence against national office bearers.

Official elections are expected to take place at the ordinary Cosatu congress in four months’ time.

“Electing leaders is a process and that will not happen at this congress.

“But delegates will discuss whether they think there is a vacuum in leadership, or whether to declare a vote of no confidence,” said Dlamini yesterday.

Vavi supporters within Cosatu are eager to have Numsa and Vavi’s reinstatement debated from the floor, and have requested this as an agenda item.

Dlamini was adamant that disruptive elements would be removed from the conference venue. Security would be tight, he warned, adding that Cosatu would take extraordinary measures to ensure the safety of its members.

He said things were so dire that the lives of Cosatu leaders had been threatened and threats had intensified over the past few days.

“You will be allowed to raise issues, but when you are called to order and choose to disrespect the chair, you will be thrown out,” he said.

Cosatu acting general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali wrote a letter to Jim on Friday informing him that Numsa’s appeal would not be discussed at the special congress

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