Sidumo Dlamini is the odd man out in Cosatu

COSATU president Sidumo Dlamini remains the “odd one out” among the labour federation’s leadership, which has called on President Jacob Zuma to do the right thing and step down from power.

Last Wednesday, he attended Zuma’s birthday bash in Soweto, which was snubbed by high-profile ANC and tripartite alliance leaders.

Considered a loyal Zuma ally, Dlamini called on Zuma to “remain strong” in the midst of these “hard, trying times”.

Zuma looked on as Dlamini told him: “As you are my leader and we tackle these issues‚ I need you to be strong.”

Cosatu recently called on Zuma to step down, saying: “Cosatu no longer believes that the president is the right person to unite and lead the movement, the alliance and the country. We think that after all his undeniable contribution to both the movement and government, the time has arrived for him to step down and allow the country to be led forward by a new collective at a government level.”

Political analyst Ralph Mathekga said: “Clearly the Cosatu leadership are divided.

“If they were not, Dlamini would have been very enthusiastic in calling for Zuma to step down. He has been very quiet. As president of the organisation, he would have been very vocal on that.”

He said Dlamini’s stance on the matter was understandable, however. “Dlamini has always been a staunch Zuma ally, so he is going to try and push back any Zuma criticism within the organisation, even if the numbers are against him.”

Another political analyst, Dumisani Hlophe, said he did not think Dlamini was speaking on behalf of Cosatu at Zuma’s birthday bash last week. “I think he has a personal relationship with the president. Look, I think Sidumo’s power within Cosatu is extremely diminished, I think those that do not want the president are the dominant grouping within Cosatu and over time Sidumo has been known to be on the side of the president. This is why I’m not convinced he was speaking there on behalf of Cosatu.

“I think they (Cosatu) took a decision (for Zuma to step down) and they stood behind that. Sidumo is the odd one out because he has always been on the side of the president. He respects Cosatu’s collective decision.”

Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said Dlamini attended “birthday celebrations of a friend and a comrade, and counting on the fair-mindedness and fairness of the audience, he offered some words of solidarity and support to a friend on his birthday. Comrade Sidumo Dlamini is not only the president of Cosatu, but is a central committee member of the SACP and a (national executive committee) member of the ANC.

“He has a right to attend parties or celebrations of whatever nature organised by his colleagues and comrades.”