Cosatu blames ‘hooligans’ for May Day mayhem

COSATU in the Chris Hani region has blamed a small group of “hooligans” for disruptions during the May Day celebrations at the Thobi Kula Indoor Sports Complex last Monday.

The Rep reported (May 5) how Cosatu leaders had to beg for calm after Sadtu provincial deputy chairman Lazola Mphothe condemned some for parading premier and ANC provincial chairman Phumulo Masualle’s photo around the venue.

This led to disruptions just before ANC national leader and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi gave his speech.

Cosatu regional secretary Mongameli Mancam said the action was caused by the stance of the federation on the ANC leadership preference provincially and nationally as both structures were going to conference.

“A bunch of hooligans tried to disrupt and stop Cosatu’s May Day [celebrations] but they failed. Cosatu wishes to condemn in the strongest possible terms the actions of a few hooligans, about 30 people, waving Masualle’s photo with his name on it, who were hellbent on disrupting with the intention to stop the May Day celebrations.”

Mancam said the day was meant to be a day to celebrate workers and to take stock of the meaningful gains made by Cosatu in previous years.

The day, he said, was also meant to highlight Cosatu’s ongoing campaigns, such as opposing e-tolls and the banning.

Cosatu is an alliance partner with the ANC and SACP.

“Our region and Vusumzi Mjila Local have made clear leadership pronouncements for the forthcoming ANC conferences. We are bound by the Cosatu central executive committee decision of November last year to support Cyril Ramaphosa as ANC president.”

The national elective conference of the ANC is in December while the provincial elective conference will take place next month. “The regional and local structures have pronounced that we want the current provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane to be the provincial chairman of the ANC.”

Mancam said “some elements within the ANC in our region are not comfortable as they realise Cosatu has a strong influence on ANC branches and they are going to lose the conference”.

He said those who were opposed to Cosatu’s stance, embarked on desperate measures to try and “silence us”, including the May Day disruption.

“We did not invite them but they knew our position, hence they went to Thobi Kula with ulterior motives,” he said.