/ 21 September 2006

Cosatu: Hands off JZ

Cosatu rounded off its congress on Thursday by calling for the National Prosecuting Authority to refrain from further legal action against Jacob Zuma.

This was one of several hard-hitting resolutions in favour of the ANC deputy president, whose fortunes have dominated the agenda of the four-day congress.

Zuma addressed the congress twice; during its opening session, and again after the case against him was thrown out of court by the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Wednesday.

Cosatu passed six resolutions on him, including one declaring that he should be treated like any ordinary citizen, and that the NPA, which prosecuted him, should be incorporated into the police.

The federation also called for an urgent meeting of the alliance to discuss “the political management of this [the Zuma] matter”. It urged the re-opening of the investigation into South Africa’s multibillion-rand arms deal.

Central to a congress overwhelmingly favourable to Zuma was the groundwork of Cosatu secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi and SACP secretary general Blade Nzimande, who had travelled the country lobbying for Zuma in Cosatu branches and affiliates.

At least two ministers closely identified with Mbeki were given a cold reception by Cosatu delegates. Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was forced to listen to delegates singing abusive songs about her husband, Bulelani Ngcuka, the former NPA director, who is perceived as a central figure in an alleged anti-Zuma plot.

Provincial and Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi had to cut short his speech after he was heckled while addressing the congress on Thursday.

A further victory for Zuma’s cause was the election to Cosatu’s deputy presidency of S’dmo Dlamini, the federation’s KwaZulu-Natal chairperson.

Dlamini has made persistent calls for Zuma to be reinstated as the country’s deputy president. He replaces Joe Nkosi, who resigned after allegations that he spied on SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande, another key Zuma backer.

The debate over who should assume Cosatu’s presidency coloured the four-day long national congress as the 2 500 delegates from Cosatu’s 21 affiliate unions engaged in intense lobbying and late-night caucusing.

At issue was whether incumbent Willie Madisha, who has been typecast as a supporter of Thabo Mbeki, would retain the position. Many affiliate unions were split and several allowed their members to make their own choices in the secret ballot.

At the time of going to print, the outcome of the vote was not known.

In a speech to the congress on Monday, Madisha held out the hope of resolving his bitter conflict with Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi. To wild applause, he vowed to work with any leader designated by workers, “Comrade Vavi not being an exception”.

However, the conflict between the two leaders continued to simmer. Vavi made several disparaging remarks about Cosatu leaders who anonymously leaked information to the media and launched character assassinations. This clearly referred to Madisha, whom Vavi accuses of leaking information about his alleged misuse of a union credit card.

Popular displays of support for and against Madisha were evident during the congress. Some workers sang in support of the incumbent, while others chorused “Madisha my ex-president”.