A row erupted at the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) conference this week, with heated claims that the African National Congress top brass barred the party’s deputy president, Jacob Zuma, from addressing delegates.
The uproar was a further sign of the intense power struggles in the union movement two weeks before the ninth congress of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).
In another development, it emerged this week that three other powerful affiliates are set to join the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in trying to remove Cosatu president Willie Madisha.
Zuma was scheduled to address the Sadtu congress at Gallagher Estate in Midrand on Thursday, but did not show up. Angry delegates alleged the ANC national working committee had blocked him, saying that ANC chairperson Mosiuoa Lekota had already spoken on the party’s behalf on Wednesday.
Proceedings were halted briefly on Wednesday night as delegates demanded clarity from union leaders. They flatly rejected Madisha’s explanation that Zuma was unable to attend because he was consulting his lawyers in preparation for his corruption trial.
Delegates demanded that Madisha ask the ANC to get Zuma to address them as scheduled. Zuma was not available for comment.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that Cosatu’s health affiliate, the National Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu); its engineering affiliate, the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (Numsa); and its municipal affiliate the South African Municipal Workers Union are considering ditching Madisha as candidate for the Cosatu presidency. Madisha is perceived as being close to President Thabo Mbeki.
Last week, NUM announced it would oppose Madisha and Cosatu deputy president Joe Nkosi as candidates at the upcoming conference.
Nehawu general secretary Fikile Majola confirmed that his union would review its stance on leadership. Although Majola refused to confirm it, it is understood that the union wants to ditch Madisha and Nkosi.
The move by the NUM and Nehawu will put pressure on Numsa, which earlier said it would push for Madisha to be retained as president. Numsa general secretary Silumko Nodwangu said the matter would be debated at the union’s national policy workshop on Friday.
Tensions in Cosatu reached boiling point after media reports that Madisha was investigating Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi for misusing the federation’s funds.
Union sources said this week that Vavi was lobbying key union leaders to get rid of Madisha. Vavi is said to be presenting Madisha as “an Mbeki” opposed to Zuma becoming the ANC leader and the country’s next president. He has also accused Madisha of leaking damaging information about him in a bid to marginalise socialists in Cosatu in favour of ANC-aligned leaders.
Attempts to contact Vavi for comment this week were unsuccessful. However, his alleged strategy appears to be working, as more affiliates are understood to be reviewing their initial positions on the Cosatu leadership.
Some leaders allege that Madisha met Mbeki behind their backs after the president had fired Zuma from the Cabinet last year.
Madisha this week rejected the allegation. He said the meeting took place after full consultation with Vavi, and that a comprehensive report was given to Cosatu’s central executive committee.
Workers say alliance should remain
Most ordinary workers believe the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Communist Party should remain in the tripartite alliance with the African National Congress. This despite ideological differences among alliance leaders, according to a Cosatu survey on workers’ attitudes.
Fewer than 10% of workers surveyed believe the conflict in the alliance is “not serious”, while 25% believe the tensions are caused by the government and the ANC no longer listening to Cosatu.
And most (31%) named Nelson Mandela as the most important political leader. ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma (12%) got slightly more support than President Thabo Mbeki (11,5%).
A survey of 3 000 workers in 12 urban areas, by Cosatu-linked think tank the National Labour Economic Development Institute (Naledi) shows most workers, including Cosatu members, favour the retention of the alliance.
A Cosatu report released this week says close to half the workers believe the SACP should not stand in elections, and almost a quarter think it should.
Although only 14% of Cosatu members believe the federation should quit the alliance, there is strong support for a reformed partnership — only 22% believe the alliance should remain unaltered. About a third believe all the allies should work harder to resolve disagreements — a view shared by 28% of ANC-supporting workers.
The survey also shows that 35% of Cosatu members belong to an ANC branch and 14% to an SACP branch. More than half the respondents believe the ANC has not delivered on its promises. — Matuma Letsoalo