Brothers in arms
Cosatu chiefs show united front after gruelling executive committee session
WITH much at stake, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) is taking a second shot at uniting its leaders by beefing up an existing internal facilitation process, insisting yesterday that it was not on the verge of collapse or a split.
Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi remains in his position — for now.
He has been granted a stay on his removal, potentially until the end of July, when this last-ditch attempt is expected to end.
The federation is facing its keenest challenge since its formation, against the backdrop of seismic shifts in the country’s labour environment. Yesterday it toned down rhetoric on the disunity in its ranks, assuring members that it was prioritising unity and cohesion.
The differences among leaders relate to the federation’s public posture and criticism of its “oppositionist” stance in relation to its ally, the African National Congress (ANC).
A first attempt at uniting warring leaders in February failed.
Now the federation has tightened the mandate handed to independent facilitators working to help resolve its problems.
This comes with the ANC having stepped in, expressing concern over the state of the federation and the likely repercussions for next year’s elections.
“This federation is not going to collapse, this federation is not going to split,” Mr Vavi said at a media briefing yesterday, flanked by Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini. “We will not allow that to happen.”
The facilitation process already in place would continue examining the ideological, political, organisational and administrative issues plaguing the federation.
It has now been handed a “flexible mandate” to talk to individual unions which would be allowed to make submissions in writing directly to facilitators, former trade unionist Petrus Mashishi and seasoned negotiator Charles Nupen. All those accused of wrongdoing would be given an opportunity to respond to the allegations made against them.
An audit firm has been appointed to determine if there were any impropriety in the sale of the Cosatu building and the purchase of its new headquarters — allegations that have been levied against Mr Vavi by his detractors in the federation.
The appointment of audit firm SizweNtsalubaGobodo is a fresh addition to the February resolution — as is a submission to the audit firm by Mr Vavi.
The report from the auditors would be concluded by next month. Submissions on political and other issues are expected to have been presented by June 6.
The auditors will have until the end of next month to finalise their report, which will be discussed by the Cosatu leadership by mid-July.
The entire process is expected to wrap up by the end of July — with key meetings with alliance partners, the ANC and the South African Communist Party, to take place between now and then.
Mr Vavi said Cosatu had made "enemies" among the rich and powerful due to its role as the "conscience of our young democracy".
He refused to be drawn on whether there was a “smear campaign” against him, but said no one had ever come forward with evidence of his wrongdoing.
Federation leaders blamed the media and leaders within its ranks for creating the impression that it was “divided, haemorrhaging members and threatened with collapse”.
“The media and their sources together want to try to divide and weaken the federation and to set the agenda at Cosatu meetings,” the general secretary said.
Cosatu’s president said the initial phase of the process had failed as no submissions were made to facilitators and also because the federation was “fending off the media”.
“This leadership has the responsibility to ensure that they can pull things together,” Mr Dlamini said.
Leaders resolved after this week’s two-day meeting to “fight harder” and show workers that Cosatu was not splitting or paralysed.
Cosatu’s discussions centred on ironing out its internal woes.
Its position on the National Development Plan — which was on the agenda for the meeting but was not discussed — would now form part of talks in a political commission to take place on June 6.