By Moshoeshoe Monare and Reuters
South Africa is drifting towards Zimbabwean-style dictatorship under President Thabo Mbeki, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has claimed.
A sign of this was "the use of state institutions in narrow factional fights", Cosatu's general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, has alleged in comments referring to the African National Congress succession battle and made to the media after a three-day meeting of the trade union federation's central executive committee.
"The (committee) expressed concern about the combination of many processes to marginalise any opposition," Vavi said.
"Dictatorship never announces its arrival. It won't, like drum majorettes, beat drums and parade down the streets to announce that it has arrived."
Vavi's comments follow those earlier this month by the third partner in the ANC's tripartite alliance. The South African Communist Party said Mbeki's presidency had become "too overly powerful and concentrated" and dominated the state and government.
Vavi said: "(There are) just too many things that tell you... we may be on our way to the Zimbabwean crisis in the long run."
Signs included national broadcaster SABC withdrawing a documentary critical of Mbeki, the stifling of internal debate, intimidation of journalists by government officials, and the purging of officials seen to support ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma, Vavi said.
"A frightening culture has developed in the ANC of cutting corners... not only to ignore internal democratic processes, but to be contemptuous of them."
The presidency, Mbeki's spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga and the ANC media office declined to comment. ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe was not available. Cosatu claimed the ANC's national executive committee - the highest decision-making body between conferences - was dominated by Mbeki favourites.
"What we have done (is) raise serious concern that the ANC national executive committee has evolved (into) a gathering of cabinet ministers and business. No more trade unionists, no one from civil society or non-governmental organisations."
Vavi also criticised Mbeki for saying he could be succeeded by a woman.
Cosatu's biggest affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers, and the SACP have questioned the timing and motive of the comments made by Mbeki not long before the judgment in the Zuma's trial on a rape charge.
The power struggle involving Zuma marked the ANC's "worst crisis in years", Vavi said.
"(Cosatu's central executive committee) was critical of the conduct of the ANC president in opening the debate while he presided over the national executive committee (meeting) that condemned the ANC Youth League for opening the succession debate too early.
"It cannot be correct that others' hands are tied by protocol while the president declares his candidature and then consistently calls for a woman president in public instead of using the ANC structures."
Vavi also hit out at Mbeki for saying South Africans outside the ANC should be involved in the succession debate.
"It is wrong to mobilise non-ANC members to decide on who must be the next president, more so when the South African system lets the president be elected by the ANC rather than the whole electorate.
"Archbishop (Desmond) Tutu was brutally and rudely reminded that he was not an ANC member when he ventured to make comments about democracy in the ANC. Now, in contrast, everyone is being mobilised to decide on internal ANC matters."
Vavi's deputy, Bheki Ntshalintshali, said Mbeki should not be influenced by his personal preferences.
"If you open the debate, let it be opened by the ANC. It's an ANC debate, so everyone can ... participate. But don't tell others not to do so (while) you do it yourself," said Ntshalintshali.
Vavi said: "All we are doing is defend the right of the ANC members to ... nominate whom they choose. It can't be correct that a leader seeks to influence that debate."
Cosatu would call on its members, most of whom were ANC branch leaders, to influence the ruling party's direction. "We have made a call for the workers to swell the ranks of the ANC (and) for greater politicisation."
Vavi said Cosatu would discuss whether to back the SACP if it went it alone in the elections.
Analysts said Cosatu's comments reflected a bitter debate over South Africa's political direction and a possible weakening of Mbeki's position as the ANC discussed who should succeed him.
"I think Cosatu smells Mbeki's blood," political analyst Aubrey Matshiqi said. "Cosatu is taking a belligerent approach on the view that Mbeki is becoming increasingly weak within the ANC and this is the opportune time to target him."