Support for Jacob Zuma was support ”for the revolution” and not just an individual, Congress of South African Trade Unions general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said on Wednesday.
Addressing the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) at its sixth national congress in Midrand, Vavi said the country’s leadership had claimed great progress while ignoring the principal economic challenges that faced working people.
”When this type of politics is allowed to take root, the very organisations that brought liberation are soon marginalised.
”This is followed by use of the state institutions to deal with targeted individuals, very like what we have seen with the [ANC] deputy president Jacob Zuma.”
Vavi told the gathering that the media were duped into publishing baseless stories against targeted individuals to tarnish their image and to finish them off politically.
”We see smear campaigns, endless investigations that never reach a conclusion, and character assassinations similar to those under apartheid.”
This was why, Vavi explained, support for Zuma was more than supporting the individual, but support for organisations and the revolution.
Discussing the challenges faced by unions, he said a situation where headlines on progress by a few individuals stood in stark contrast to mass unemployment and poverty for many black people could not be tolerated.
”We cannot tolerate government focusing on enriching a few while the majority go underfed, underserved and without hope of real progress.”
He told Sadtu — one of Cosatu’s biggest affiliates — that they were meeting in a period which had many possibilities.
Some of these could be tilted to favour the working class and leftist forces. Vavi warned however what could happen if the correct tactical and strategic moves were not made.
”We may squander all hopes of transformation for working people and the poor.”
He spoke out against ”fat cats” who had been enriched by black economic empowerment.
”We cannot tolerate a situation where the aspirant black bourgeoisie stands on the carcass of the working class in pursuit of wealth.
”We cannot sing praises when all we do is to replace the white oligarchy with a black one.”
The congress continues until Saturday. – Sapa