Cosatu takes aim at ‘enemies of the revolution’

The Congress of South African Trade Unions put pressure on the African National Congress on Tuesday, threatening to “name and shame” people who use political connections to line their pockets.

ANC NGC: It’s a wrap

We take a look at the ANC’s national general council and sum up the main issues discussed and resolutions reached at this year’s conference. Get the event’s highlights here, with commentary from M&G political reporter Mandy Rossouw.

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Relations between the ruling party and Cosatu have been strained by what the labour group sees as growing cronyism in Jacob Zuma’s administration and by a public-service strike led by Cosatu-affiliated unions which was suspended earlier this month.

“The time is coming where we would name and shame these real enemies of the revolution who mouth unity but are hell bent on destroying the cohesion of the liberation movement for their selfish ends,” said Cosatu secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi.

“Cosatu will step up its campaign against corruption and is proceeding to consult its partners in civil society to build a powerful anti-corruption institution of civil society,” Vavi told a union meeting.

Vavi and Cosatu are powerbrokers who helped to bring Zuma to the presidency, hoping he would embrace their left-leaning policies that include massive welfare spending.

Zuma told an ANC meeting last week that he would crack down on corruption in its ranks but offered few details of what he would do to end shady deals in Africa’s largest economy.

Vavi has said COSATU’s long-standing alliance with the ANC, forged in the struggle to end apartheid, was dysfunctional and his federation might withdraw support for ANC candidates who do not meet its standards when local elections are held next year.

Analysts say Vavi’s comments were probably aimed as much at Zuma as they were at people within the ANC who are lining up their own bids for power in 2012, when the party elects its leaders and sets economic policy.

M&G analysis of Zuma’s NGC speech

President Jacob Zuma’s main address at the ANC national general council was a crucial moment for him, as he set out to reassert his authority, show his detractors who’s boss and give hope to those who want to see him succeed. M&G political reporter Mandy Rossouw has a look at how it went.