There is no leadership tussle within the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), the federation’s president told reporters on Wednesday.
”We work very closely with each other, and I can assure you that there is no war in the federation,” said Willie Madisha.
He was quizzed by reporters after a media conference in Johannesburg about education affairs.
In the past weeks, the media reported that Madisha and Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi ”were at war with each other and barely speaking”.
The rift had been caused by claims that Vavi had abused Cosatu resources for the benefit of a woman with whom he was apparently involved.
He allegedly used a Cosatu credit card to hire expensive cars for her, and was said to have taken her on a number of overseas trips at Cosatu’s expense.
Madisha was investigating the claims, according to the reports.
”Those reports are not true. I work very closely with Vavi and we are not fighting at all.”
Madisha said he was not investigating any claims against Vavi.
Last week, Vavi denied knowing about the investigation, adding that the allegations were linked to the future political direction of the federation.
Madisha also disputed the view that he was ”a comprador who is too close to the ANC in Cabinet”.
”That is absolute rubbish. I don’t know what Cabinet they are talking about. A few years ago, I was too opposing to the same Cabinet”.
Madisha said people need to ask themselves whether South Africans have become the government’s enemies.
”I like being close to transformation and I am not enemies with the government,” he said.
He repeated the federation’s support for African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma during his corruption trial.
”We still call for the charges against him to be dropped and that he should be re-instated as the country’s deputy president”.
Both Vavi and Madisha are available for re-election. — Sapa