Cosatu boss ‘forced to apologise’

TRADE union federation Cosatu has embarrassed its president S’dumo Dlamini – forcing him to apologise for not toeing the line.

This is according to several Cosatu leaders who attended the federation’s one-day special central executive committee (CEC) on Monday at Cosatu House in Johannesburg.

This comes after Dlamini, a known President Jacob Zuma supporter, attended the president’s birthday bash in Kliptown, Soweto, in April after the CEC had taken a decision that Zuma should step down as a leader.

At a post-CEC media briefing yesterday, Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali denied Dlamini was asked to apologise, saying it was not on the agenda.

“They [Cosatu affiliates] have accepted the explanation that was given not only by him but as the leadership collective,” Ntshalintshali said.

Cosatu second deputy president Zingiswa Losi defended Dlamini, saying Dlamini’s personal relationship with Zuma should not threaten his loyalty as president of Cosatu.

“You would remember even now when others would leave this federation and others would leave the ANC and form other political parties but they will meet in weddings. It does not mean that they have gone away from their organisational positions,” she said.

Dlamini avoided answering questions about his relationship with Zuma. Yesterday, Cosatu put another knife into Zuma when it announced that he was no longer welcome to address its activities, including the upcoming central committee meeting scheduled to take place next week in Irene, South of Pretoria.

Zuma suffered a humiliation when he was booed at the May Day rally in Bloemfontein when workers refused to be addressed by him, resulting in the cancellation of the rally. — TMG