SACP+R500K+donation+probe+dividing+COSATU,+Kgosana,+City+Press



=SACP R500 000 donation probe is ‘dividing COSATU’=


 * Caiphas Kgosana, City Press, Johannesburg, 4 November 2007**

COSATU in Gauteng province has launched an attack on the SA Communist Party (SACP), saying its investigation into the R500 000 donation saga is dividing the federation.

Cosatu president Willie Madisha is under fire after disclosing that he handed over a R500 000 cash donation from businessman Charles Modise, which was meant for the SACP, to the party’s general-secretary, Blade Nzimande.

Nzimande has denied receiving the money.

Modise has since reported the matter to the police, who are now investigating a case of fraud.

An SACP investigation concluded that there was no concrete evidence to suggest that Madisha handed the money over to Nzimande.

Cosatu provincial shop stewards who met on Wednesday questioned the timing of the release of the findings – just before the Cosatu Central Committee meeting.

“Was it politically correct for the party to release the results of an incomplete investigation report on the eve of a very important meeting of Cosatu? Is it not having the potential of dividing Cosatu?” the Provincial Shop Stewards Council said.

Phutas Tseki, Cosatu chairperson in Gauteng, said the provincial executive committee wanted Madisha to be defended against any accusations levelled at him.

Tensions are high within Cosatu, with a group led by general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi pushing for Madisha to be investigated.

At a heated central executive committee meeting held recently, Madisha offered to temporarily stand down as president to allow for an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the matter.

But Gauteng shop stewards say the SACP should give guidance in the matter.

Madisha has constantly complained that the SACP took sides with Nzimande on the R500 000 matter before the probe took place.

Tseki reiterated the view held by those who support Madisha in Cosatu that the R500 000 donation saga was not a Cosatu matter but should be handled by at SACP level.

Tseki said workers should not be fighting among themselves.

“Madisha must be supported by all members of Cosatu, no matter what he has done,” said Tseki. “Our mission is to organise workers and our traditional enemy is monopoly capital. We cannot be fighting amongst ourselves,” he said.

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