Johannesburg - The National Union of Metalworkers of SA has demanded an apology from Cosatu president S’dumo Dlamini for his reported comments about its suspended deputy president.
“We find these distasteful comments by president Dlamini unfortunate and regrettable,” Numsa secretary Bandla Mtshiselwa said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Such comments can only be made by someone that suffers from high levels of paranoia... We demand a public apology and an unconditional retraction.”
Mtshiselwa was reacting to comments allegedly made by Dlamini and published in The Citizen on Wednesday following the suspension of the Congress of SA Trade Unions' second deputy president Zingiswa Losi.
Dlamini was quoted as saying: “It would be unfortunate if Losi was being targeted so that there can be a speedy special conference. The labour federation does not want to draw a conclusion that Losi was suspended for supporting (President Jacob) Zuma.”
The newspaper reported that Losi had become another casualty in the battle for control of Cosatu, and the suspension would likely be seen as part of a purge of pro-Zuma and Cosatu leaders.
Numsa suspended Losi for allegedly bringing the union's name into disrepute.
Mtshiselwa said Losi's suspension was an internal matter and had nothing to do with the upcoming Cosatu special congress.
“It is quite interesting that president Dlamini can make such cheap and ill-conceived conclusions. This has nothing to do with an individual’s leadership preferences or personal feelings.
“It should be clearly stated that... our members... have no ill feelings towards President Zuma, but we have ill feelings and deep hatred towards any reactionary programme that seeks to undermine our revolutionary gains.”
Mtshiselwa described Dlamini's remarks as “inflammatory and unsubstantiated”.
Sapa