COSATU will push ahead with its high-stakes leadership elections on Tuesday despite a bruising war of words between delegates and ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe that has exposed the Tripartite Alliance’s deepest cracks.
The federation’s 15th National Elective Congress in Ekurhuleni on Monday turned into a public showdown after Mantashe refused to follow the programme and speak before the SACP, forfeiting his address and walking out of Emperors Palace.
Delegates did not take kindly to what they called a stunt.
“We will remember this moment that once upon a time there was an ANC Chairperson who undermined COSATU,” a statement from the floor declared, triggering loud applause from more than 2,000 delegates.
But Mantashe did not budge, framing his walkout as a matter of principle, not protocol.
“The message is we do not distort the alliance for convenience. You do the right thing, whether it is painful or not. You don’t change it as you like. And one of the things that I will never do is to give up a principle for convenience,” he said speaking to journalists outside the plenary.
For Mantashe, a former COSATU general secretary and former SACP chairperson, the tradition is sacred. SANCO speaks, then the SACP, then the ANC as leader of the Alliance closes. To place the ANC first was, in his view, to distort the Alliance for convenience.
For COSATU delegates, it was arrogance. Some said they saw it as proof that Luthuli House still treats the federation as a labour desk to be summoned, not an equal partner.
The clash comes just three weeks before the November 4 local government elections and lays bare a toxic relationship.
Insiders say President Cyril Ramaphosa was advised at the last minute not to attend the congress himself for fear of being booed over austerity, job losses and the Government of National Unity, and deployed Mantashe instead.
Just hours earlier, COSATU president Zingiswa Losi had admitted the movement had humiliated itself with factions and adjourned congresses, invoking Nelson Mandela to declare: “We are one movement. We will not abandon it when times are tough.”
COSATU spokesperson Matthew Parks said the federation will gear up for its elections on Tuesday, with results expected Wednesday morning if there are no delays. Closing will be done by the new COSATU President on the same day.
“The federation will be gearing up for their elections on Tuesday and the results likely to be out Wednesday morning if there are no delays,” Parks said.
That contest is itself tearing the federation apart.
The leadership battle has divided COSATU into two major factions.
Losi and company is anchored by powerful public sector unions – NEHAWU, SADTU and POPCRU – who are pushing for continuity under the incumbent and General Secretary Solly Phetoe.
First deputy Mike Shingange’s faction is backed by SAMWU, NUM and other unions who have fiercely disputed conference credentials.
The Losi camp credits her with stabilising COSATU after its membership collapsed to 1.6 million and luring back former giants NUMSA, FAWU and SAFPU. The Shingange camp says that is not enough – COSATU must cut the ANC cord and return to militant independence.
