Zille on Ehrenreich’s nomination

Tony Ehrenreich. Photo: Sam Clark

Tony Ehrenreich. Photo: Sam Clark

Published Mar 9, 2011

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DA leader Premier Helen Zille said on Tuesday that Cosatu’s nomination of Tony Ehrenreich for city mayor would lead to a “fundamental conflict of interest”.

Zille will form part of the DA’s 30-member committee that will elect the party’s preferred candidate on Sunday.

Zille said she did not want to be drawn into the mayoral struggle within the ANC, but would make one “generic point” about trade unions openly affiliating with a political party.

“There is a fundamental conflict of interests in this. And that is one of the reasons that there is such profound tension between Cosatu and the ANC. A trade union is meant to represent the workplace interests of workers in that sector, irrespective of their political affiliations,” said Zille.

She said by openly aligning themselves with a political party, trade union leaders undermine their core functions.

“This will actually escalate the ANC’s internal conflict, not resolve it,” said Zille.

Cosatu and the ANC said on Tuesday that Ehrenreich was not only the “fittest” person to be Cape Town’s next mayor, but also the one of the ANC’s best cadres.

Ehrenreich said he was “humbled” by Cosatu’s view that he can make a positive contribution as mayor.

Cosatu provincial chairman Jan Kotze confirmed Ehrenreich as the federation’s nomination as mayor of Cape Town and said the decision would still have to go through the ANC’s internal selection process.

“This is an ANC process. The PEC (provincial executive committee) believes the ANC should consider (Ehrenreich) as part of its list.

“As the Cosatu PEC, we are saying this is who we want the ANC to consider in their list of names. We said it should be no other than Tony Ehrenreich,” said Kotze.

He said Ehrenreich is the “fittest” person for the job.

“He has always been the fittest one of all in the Western Cape and will be one of the fittest in South Africa, and Cosatu has no doubt about that,” said Kotze.

Talking about the candidates nomination process on Tuesday, ANC provincial secretary Songezo Mjongile said it had started a while back.

“Candidates are currently being screened and a similar process is under way for ward candidates. We’ll take all the names to the NEC, and once it makes a decision we will announce our candidates,” said Mjongile.

He said Cosatu was part of the committee which vetted those on the ANC’s proportional representative list.

On Ehrenreich’s nomination by Cosatu, Mjongile said: “In Cosatu we treat all our cadres equally. Comrade Tony is among our best cadres.”

Ehrenreich, who was seated next to Kotze during Tuesday’s media briefing, was not permitted to make a personal statement on his candidacy.

“I don’t think at this moment Tony can comment on anything. If his name is accepted, the alliance will meet,” said Kotze.

However, Ehrenreich clarified his position on social networking site Facebook a few hours later.

“I am a servant of Cosatu, it decides where it feels I can make a contribution. I am humbled by Cosatu’s view that I can make a contribution as mayor of Cape Town.

“This is, however, just a statement of a preferred candidate by Cosatu.

“The ANC, however, decides, in consultation with (the) alliance, based on what they believe is appropriate for the situation,” wrote Ehrenreich.

Facts about Ehrenreich:

- Tony Ehrenreich was born in Parow in 1962.

- He attended Elsies River Primary School and later St Augustine High School in Elsies River.

- He was first appointed Cosatu provincial secretary in November 1996.

- From 1999 to 2001, he was the federation’s national deputy general-secretary and worked with Zwelinzima Vavi, Cosatu’s current general secretary.

- In 2002, he returned to Cape Town for a second stint as Cosatu provincial secretary - a position he currently holds.

- In 2007, he challenged other public figures to follow his example when he had a homeless family live in his holiday home in Kleinmond.

- He was a member of Cape Town Routes Unlimited and has represented Cosatu at Nedlac and the Provincial Development Council.

- He was diagnosed with stomach cancer last year. - Cape Times

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