Tensions between Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Willie Madisha and its general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi ran so high that mediators were called in to settle their conflict. At its heart is a fight for the political direction of the federation, which has been drawn four square into the succession battle. Recently, communist leader Blade Nzimande was pulled into the fray.
He weighed in on the side of Vavi, claiming that he was the victim of a conspiracy; Madisha is being painted as a comprador who is too close to the Cabinet. Behind the war of words is the fact that Cosatu is splitting into political factions, with the federation’s public and spirited support for African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma now facing an internal challenge.
The Mail & Guardian has established that mediators, led by the veteran industrial sociologist Eddie Webster, were asked to look at the key issues in the conflict between the federation’s two big men. Madisha, as president, believes he is often sidelined by Vavi on vital issues such as the federation’s political positions and the succession battle in the ruling party: there are splits in Cosatu on the role the federation should play, what statements its leaders can make and how much mandating should take place.
On Monday Vavi allegedly accused Madisha of leaking information to City Press, which broke the story about the tensions between Cosatu’s numbers one and two.
The federation is holding a vital congress next month and tensions appear to have crystallised around whether it should continue to support Zuma as a potential successor to Thabo Mbeki. Within the South African Communist Party and Cosatu previous unity on Zuma is fracturing and is being presented as ideological battles.
Writing in the SACP’s fortnightly online publication, Umsebenzi, Nzimande said the leaking of information about Vavi was an attempt by the capitalist class to remove worker leaders who are seen as militant. “This has led to the emergence of a phenomenon inside the trade union movement that can be referred to as business unionism — trade union leaders by day and capitalists by night,” wrote Nzimande.
Seven trade unionists, from within Cosatu and its affiliate unions, confirmed the mediation efforts. Asked for confirmation, Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said: “I can’t comment.”
The mediation team, which sat at the end of last year, was led by Webster, who is director of the sociology of work unit at Wits University; Petrus Mashishi, president of the South African Municipal Workers Union; and the National Union of Mineworkers president Senzeni Zokwana. Webster was overseas; Mashishi denied that he was part of the team; Zokwana said it was an internal matter on which Cosatu could not comment.
The mediators were asked to probe worker control and where the buck stopped on policy decisions. Through several interviews and conversations, the M&G now understands that Madisha feels he is being undermined by Vavi on crucial decisions taken by Cosatu, while Vavi believes it is within his power to make policy decisions without consulting Madisha. Worker control is an old issue in Cosatu and has its genesis in debates about a fair distribution of power and influence between employed office bearers and elected worker representatives. Vavi is a former worker leader.
According to Cosatu’s constitution, Madisha is responsible for supervising of the affairs of the federation between meetings of the national committee and the central executive committee.
As an accounting officer, Vavi is responsible for the administration of the organisation, including financial affairs, the keeping of books and accounts, as required by the central executive committee. Madisha, it is said, believes that Vavi has not sought sufficient mandates for his political statements in support of Zuma. Vavi told the M&G that he is not a loose cannon and was articulating Cosatu’s resolution on the Zuma matter.
In turn, Madisha’s critics say that he is too close to the ANC in Cabinet.
Madisha enjoys the support of Cosatu vice-president Joe Nkosi and National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa secretary general Slumko Nondwangu, both of whom are regarded as Mbeki supporters in Cosatu.
City Press reported that Madisha was investigating Vavi for improper use of a credit card during a romantic liaison with a married fellow unionist; the federation has denied the probe. The media leaks appear to be part of the arsenal used by both men. Last year, the Sunday Times reported that Madisha had been ordered to repay the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) money used to settle his tax bill.
All of this sets the stage for a fiery Cosatu congress next month.
As the M&G reported last week, Vavi is likely to face a challenge for his position from Numsa’s Nondwangu. In fact, all four top positions in Cosatu are likely to be contested as the political lines are drawn.
Vavi is a popular leader, but one who is facing questions at head office. He is going to the grassroots. He is mobilising provincial structures to support him at congress and, say sources, he is likely to be successful.