Mantashe warns on Cosatu split

ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe fields questions from journalists at a news briefing in Johannesburg on Monday, 24 November 2014 following a meeting of the party's National Executive Committee.Picture: Werner Beukes/SAPA

ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe fields questions from journalists at a news briefing in Johannesburg on Monday, 24 November 2014 following a meeting of the party's National Executive Committee.Picture: Werner Beukes/SAPA

Published Mar 31, 2015

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Johannesburg - The crises that have beset Cosatu are as a result of limited leadership incapable of understanding and managing the modern dynamics of an organisation with the character of a federal establishment.

This was the view of ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe on Monday, as Cosatu teetered on the brink of total collapse.

While he insisted that the problems tearing Cosatu apart were not insurmountable, Mantashe appeared to concede that the ANC was at its wits’ end in its mediation efforts to resolve the impasse that may lead to Cosatu’s implosion.

He appealed for quality leadership to deal with Cosatu’s troubles, which he said were inherently part of Cosatu’s evolvement dating from its formation in the 1980s.

“The only difference (today) is the limited experience in the leadership to deal with the dynamics of an organisation that is federal,” Mantashe said on Monday, addressing a post-ANC national executive committee (NEC) meeting at the party’s Luthuli House headquarters in Joburg.

The clashes in Cosatu have pitted a faction led by the federation’s president, S’dumo Dlamini, with one aligned to general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi - who was dismissed on Monday.

Last year, the ANC appointed a task team to try to broker a truce that could see the feuding factions bury the hatchet.

Its work has, however, often been hampered by the allegations of divisive tendencies levelled against Mantashe and SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande.

But Mantashe denied this on Monday. Instead, he wagged a finger at Vavi and metalworkers’ union Numsa.

In a scathing attack, he said Vavi “suffered from delinquency” for calling a media conference to reveal Cosatu’s financial crisis.

He, however, warned of dire consequences if Vavi were to be expelled or if Cosatu were allowed to disintegrate with the hope of later reconstituting it.

“I think the view of the ANC is consistent on this matter, that expelling is the easiest decision.

“The most complex part is after that, what happens?

“You can’t slaughter the beast and hope that you will get more. If you collapse the organisation with the intention of growing it, it may disappear instead of growing.”

Mantashe then took Numsa to task over its decision to form the United Front, which is seen as the equivalent of a political party to take on the ANC.

“Many people broke away, splintered and formed parties. We will meet them. It (the United Front) can’t be the issue that becomes the basis of dividing the federation,” Mantashe said.

In what could be construed as an admission that the ANC task team’s mediation efforts had failed, Mantashe said only Cosatu and its affiliates were capable of resolving their differences.

“We will continue doing what we can do, but we will continuing emphasising that, at the end of the day, it is Cosatu and its affiliates that must appreciate that the primary responsibility of the unity of Cosatu is in their own hands.”

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The Star

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