I am so disappointed with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) this week. The federation, which projects itself as the nation’s moral torch-bearer since 1994, has fallen on its sword in its response to the political future of Deputy President Jacob Zuma.
It has taken principled positions in favour of more progressive economic policies and most recently on rights abuses in Zimbabwe, but faced with the largest moral dilemma of its time, Cosatu has opted for politics over principle.
Where rank and file African National Congress members have been reluctant to criticise President Thabo Mbeki and Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, it was Cosatu that challenged the government on its reluctance to -provide nevira-pine for mother-to-child HIV treatment.
Where Mbeki had spent years shielding the arrogant bully who threatened the reputations of the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, it was Cosatu that tackled Robert Mugabe by taking up a vociferous rights position.
It is therefore particularly disappointing that Cosatu has lost perspective in defence of its favourite future president, Zuma, by recklessly attacking the character of Judge Hillary Squires for his judgement that taints and questions the character of the deputy president.
It is the kind of witch-hunt and twisted logic that are associated more with the loose cannons of the youth league, who suddenly remember that Judge Squires was part of a Rhodesian government that jailed and killed freedom fighters, and who are really clutching at straws.
To insinuate that Judge Squires, and KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Vuka Tshabalala, who appointed Judge Squires, were part of a political -campaign to assassinate the character of Zuma is really to test the limit of credulity and to vest no integrity in the institutions of the young democracy Cosatu has helped build.
Is it time, I wonder, to start asking what the difference is between Cosatu and the Zimbabwean government, which has routed out independent judges and stacked the institution with apparatchiks?
Cosatu’s is a simplistic and easy argument that shows that when it comes to the crunch, Cosatu easily bends on principles. If the federation or any of the Zuma supporters had a problem with the judge, they should have called for his recusal at the beginning of the trial. Cosatu has a right to play politics if it chooses to, but it should respect the institutions that give life to this democracy and which the federation might very well have to rely on to safeguard its democratic rights.
Sies!