Cosatu+chiefs+jockey+for+posts,+Amy+Musgrave,+Business+Day

Business Day, Johannesburg, 31 August 2006
=Cosatu chiefs jockey for posts ahead of congress=


 * //Madisha appears to be losing ground//**


 * Amy Musgrave, Political Correspondent**

CONGRESS of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Willie Madisha was at pains yesterday to reiterate his support for African National Congress (ANC) deputy president Jacob Zuma after some affiliated unions vowed to withdraw their support for his re-election among the federation’s top brass.

Madisha also expressed his willingness to work with Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi amid growing tensions between the two over support for the ANC deputy president and allegations of misuse of a credit card by Vavi.

Madisha’s conciliatory speech suggested that he could be losing ground to the popular Vavi in the run-up to Cosatu’s elective congress next month. There was already speculation that Madisha will not be returned to his position as Cosatu president when the federation elects a new leadership next month.

Madisha, who was addressing a South African Democratic Teachers Union Congress (Sadtu) in Midrand, is said to be a supporter of President Thabo Mbeki, while Vavi backs Zuma.

“The president of Cosatu is willing and prepared to work closely with the general secretary of the federation for many years to come,” Madisha said.

The powerful National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) announced this week that it would oppose the re-election of some of Cosatu’s leaders after holding a meeting to decide how to manage the reported fallout between Madisha and Vavi. The NUM said this week it would no longer support Madisha’s re-election but would support Vavi’s re-election to his current position.

Madisha, who is also Sadtu president, said Cosatu’s central executive committee members supported a resolution adopted by the federation to support Zuma after he was axed as the country’s deputy president. “I wish to rise here and protect our general secretary for having spoken louder than anyone on this matter. This is because he is the chief spokesperson of our federation and has spoken more on any issue because of his status in the federation.”

Madisha said the fact that other leaders spoke less — and continued to speak less — did not make them less committed to the resolution. “We all support it.”

Madisha also spoke candidly about the status of the tripartite alliance, saying its future would come under intense scrutiny at Cosatu’s congress. Five possible scenarios have been floated, including the signing of an “enforceable pact” with the ANC. The federation was exploring the building of an independent working class to swell the ANC ranks and take it over.

Madisha said divisions in the alliance had “sown permanent seeds of suspicions” and led to unacceptable levels of “internecine battles”. Instead of addressing issues facing workers such as HIV/AIDS, job casualisation and retrenchments, “we as leaders have shifted our focus on intra-leadership attacks”.

He blamed all alliance leaders for the “crises” and urged the ANC to lead the national democratic movement and not to let it be paralysed.

ANC national chairman Mosiuoa Lekota said it was not sufficient for the alliance to seek a “facade” of unity. He reiterated Mbeki’s stance that the electorate was waiting for promises to be fulfilled.


 * From: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/national.aspx?ID=BD4A260652**

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