Cosatu in national state capture protest
COSATU President S’dumo Dlamini has moved to bolster the federation’s stance in the tripartite alliance‚ saying they would assert themselves in electing Cyril Ramaphosa at the ANC’s elective conference in December.
Thousands of federation members‚ led by Dlamini‚ marched through Durban’s city centre yesterday as part of a national shutdown in opposition to state capture.
Protesters sang songs likening the Gupta family to dogs.
On their backing of Ramaphosa to lead the ANC‚ Dlamini said that he should be given a chance to lead.
“We have a direct say in the leadership of the ANC because it impacts us. We are a part of the ANC‚” he said.
He went on to condemn divisions in the alliance and within Cosatu itself. “Let’s fix our problems in the alliance. We need to reconfigure ourselves now. Cosatu has one voice and we will not be divided.”
Dlamini‚ seen as an ally of President Jacob Zuma‚ earlier alluded to a plot from those within the tripartite alliance to oust him.
Dlamini said some of these individuals were working with the media to drive a wedge between him and the rest of the Cosatu leadership‚ and that of the tripartite alliance. These comments came days after reports emerged that Dlamini did not participate in preparation for yesterday’s march against state capture. In Cape Town, SA Communist Party (SACP) first deputy general secretary Jeremy Cronin shouted “down with state capture” at the gates of parliament.
Addressing those who had participated in the Cosatu march in Cape Town, he said R27-billion was being looted from the public purse every year.
“R170-billion‚ at least‚ is being taken out of the country by the private sector‚” he continued.
“People are making lots of money but services are getting worse. They are making billions by screwing those who are poor and in need.”
He lambasted the Gupta family‚ NPA head Shaun Abrahams and SARS Commissioner Tom Moyane.
In a memorandum to parliament‚ the union stressed that government ministers implicated in alleged state capture activities should be “urgently investigated and if no proper public explanation for their actions is acceptable” they should be charged. In addition, all contracts between government and the Guptas‚ including mining‚ should be reviewed by the auditor-general for “irregularities in order to develop a financial claim for monies corruptly secured”.
The Asset Forfeiture Unit should also seize the assets of the family.
Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich read the memorandum to the crowd.
“To promote and defend the interests of workers‚ the working class and the poor‚ this perilous situation must be addressed forthwith by‚ amongst other things‚ dismantling the network of the predatory elite‚” the memorandum stated. — DDC