Unionists began streaming into Gallagher Estate for the ninth congress of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Monday.
Jacob Zuma, the deputy president of the African National Congress (ANC), was expected to use the congress to kick-start his campaign for the party’s presidency.
The conference takes place against a background of reports of rivalry between Zuma and President Thabo Mbeki.
Meanwhile, Mbeki said a strong Cosatu was essential for the ANC-led tripartite alliance to implement the national democratic revolution.
Wishing the ninth congress well in his weekly ANC Today newsletter on the ruling party’s website, Mbeki said the ANC awaited the outcome of the congress ”with great expectation”.
”The strategic framework that defines the relationship between the ANC and Cosatu [and other members of the Alliance], has not changed to any material degree,” he said.
Mbeki is scheduled to be at the United Nations general assembly, where South Africa expects to be elected to the non-permanent seat of the United Nations Security Council for 2007/08.
Traditionally, the president of the ANC has addressed the Cosatu conference at its opening.
However, this year his deputy, Jacob Zuma, will do so. – Sapa