A resolution recommending Jacob Zuma for president of the African National Congress (ANC) was adopted by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Thursday.
Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi reiterated that the trade-union federation has no right to nominate people for the leadership election, but it wants to guide its members who also belong to the ANC on who the right leaders for workers would be.
”There is sufficient consensus that Cosatu has no right to nominate … what we have done is identify the people who in our view will best represent the spirit of the congress,” he said.
The resolution recommends Zuma for ANC president, Kgalema Motlanthe for deputy president, Gwede Mantashe for secretary general, Baleka Mbete for deputy secretary general and Mathews Phosa for treasurer general.
Three names were put forward for the position of national chairperson. These were Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Makhenkesi Stofile and Mosiuoa Lekota. It was then decided that Lekota’s name be removed from the recommendations for this position and that the position go to a woman. However, the candidates have not yet been identified.
On Wednesday, Vavi had said about Zuma: ”I must say that he has become a very important symbol among workers and I will not be surprised if this conference endorses him as candidate for the ANC presidency.”
The charismatic Zuma is very popular with unions and the ANC rank-and-file despite being tainted by corruption allegations.
Cosatu’s decision is a major blow to President Thabo Mbeki, who says he will stand for a third term as ANC leader if asked.
The ANC, suffering from the worst infighting in its history, will choose a new leader during its party conference in December, which is likely to see a bitter battle between supporters of Mbeki and Zuma, currently the ANC deputy president.
Whoever heads the ANC traditionally becomes South Africa’s president, although Mbeki is constitutionally barred from standing for that office when his current term ends in 2009.
Thursday’s resolution also noted that the ANC views Cosatu’s decision to choose leaders as ”irregular and departing from tradition and protocols”, and included a number of characteristics that leaders of the ANC should possess.
As Vavi uttered the words ”Resolution adopted,” delegates rose to their feet and broke out in song.