Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi’s statement that President Thabo Mbeki’s re-election to the African National Congress (ANC) presidency would divide the tripartite alliance was unfounded and divisive, the ANC said on Monday.
”The ANC is disturbed by what appears to be a sustained and irresponsible campaign by Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi,” the party said in a statement.
”We urge Vavi to desist from theatrical gimmicks that have nothing to do with the future of the alliance,” it said.
On Saturday, Vavi told the 63rd anniversary celebrations of the ANC Youth League in Galeshewe that a status quo in the ANC leadership would ruin the alliance.
”We shouldn’t say don’t interfere in our affairs when we in fact work together all the time. We want to close the chapter of division,” Vavi said.
He said he was not mistaken when he said a Jacob Zuma presidency was an unstoppable tsunami.
In an unprecedented move last month, Cosatu’s central executive committee released names of the ANC leadership they envisaged working with after the party’s 52nd congress in Limpopo.
The list did not include Mbeki and had Zuma as president.
”His continued unwarranted attacks on the leadership of the ANC is a matter of concern,” the ANC said.
It said: ”Leaders of the alliance are expected to act responsibly and conduct themselves in an exemplary manner befitting a leader of the mass democratic movement.
”We wish to state once again that the decision of who should lead the ANC is the exclusive right of ANC branches and should be respected.”
Ramaphosa’s the man
Meanwhile, senior ANC member Kader Asmal on Monday called on hundreds of the ruling party’s influential branches to back business tycoon Cyril Ramaphosa as the next president of the ruling party and the country.
Ramaphosa (54), a former trade unionist, was the ANC’s chief negotiator during talks that led to a peaceful end to apartheid in 1994 and Nelson Mandela becoming South Africa’s first black president.
Ramaphosa has said he has no interest in becoming South Africa’s next president, but he would likely be a top contender in 2009 elections if he changed his mind, analysts say.
The pivotal role he played in drafting South Africa’s Constitution after apartheid would give him added weight.
The ANC’s next party leader, to be elected at its national conference in Polokwane in December, will almost certainly become South Africa’s next president, replacing Thabo Mbeki. – Sapa