COSATU DUCKS SUCCESSION BATTLE IN ANC
Dlamini appeals for unity
COSATU has avoided taking a public stance on who should replace President Jacob Zuma as ANC leader.
Last night Cosatu leaders agreed that publicly endorsing Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa as Zuma’s successor – which was the wish of most of the organisation’s big affiliates – would divide the troubled organisation.
The Cosatu top brass agreed that officially entering the ANC succession battle would also put it on a collision course with the ruling party, which has not officially opened the debate.
The Cosatu central executive committee (CEC) yesterday held a special meeting to discuss ANC succession, among other issues.
Sowetan understands that the majority of unions agreed that the ANC should follow the tradition of making its deputy become its leader although there was no formal decision taken.
It was agreed that other unions had to be given space to debate the issue and come up with positions.
This was after the big affiliates complained in the meeting that although the ANC had not opened succession, some of its structures were already campaigning for African Union Commission chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to become the next leader.
These included the ANC Women’s League, among others.
The unions that wanted Cosatu to openly endorse Ramaphosa included the National Health, Education and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) and the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu).
The succession battle of the ANC fractured Cosatu and its affiliates both in the run-up to and after the ANC’s elective conferences in 2007 and 2012.
It was one of the issues that led to former Cosatu boss Zwelinzima Vavi and his supporters being kicked out of Cosatu.
A CEC member said: “We decided not to come out to divide ourselves over an ANC which is already in turmoil.”
Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini yesterday used his opening address to appeal to its affiliates to preserve the unity of Cosatu in setting the tone for a discussion.
There were concerns that the debate on who should succeed Zuma was going to divide Cosatu and worsen its woes following the recent departure of the Food and Allied Workers’ Union.
Another CEC member said: “In his opening address the president spoke of ‘uniting the people’s camp’ and emphasised the point that, contrary to what people say, Cosatu is not dead and is a living federation and has led a significant number of marches recently and continues to score major victories for workers.”
Dlamini confirmed he had raised the issue of unity in his address and said the federation was not dead.
“It is true I said that. We will only do interviews after our press conference.”