Business Day
*Vavi shuns ANC executive again despite Zuma call* *Carol Paton, Business Day, 5 March 2012 *CONGRESS of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has once again turned his back on an opportunity to serve on the African National Congress (ANC) executive.
Instead, he will run for another term of office at the helm of the union federation when it holds its national congress in September. This means, he says, that he will not stand for election to the leadership structures of the ANC in December, as it would compromise his independence.
Two weeks ago President Jacob Zuma encouraged labour leaders to serve on the ANC's national executive committee (NEC), instead of criticising the party's policies and their slow implementation from a distance.
Mr Vavi is the most influential labour leader and is virtually assured of re-election. He has been very critical of the government of Mr Zuma, who is also likely to be re-elected by his party in December.
In an interview after Cosatu's central executive committee meeting last week, Mr Vavi said: "I'm making myself available in September. That, in my view, rules me out in December. That is my view and I feel very strongly about it."
Mr Vavi, who has been general secretary of Cosatu for 12 years, indicated at the last Cosatu congress three years ago he would not be available for another term. However, the federation's central executive committee in June last year requested him to rescind his decision, as it would fuel an early succession race in the federation.
His decision not to wear two hats is in contrast to the appeal by Mr Zuma last week that trade unionists join the leadership structures of the ANC. Speaking at "a political school" convened by the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), Mr Zuma said it was "a weakness" if workers were not in ANC structures, where they could influence its direction.
"(Workers should be) not just in the branch region or zone or province, but at a place where decisions are taken, the NEC," Mr Zuma said.
While Mr Vavi himself will not stand for the NEC, other prominent trade unionists are likely to do so, in line with Cosatu policy that its members should "swell the ranks of the ANC". This applied also to its highest structures, Mr Vavi said.
But although it is Cosatu policy to allow its leadership to stand for other leadership positions, Mr Vavi says for "the public face" of an organisation to wear "two hats" often leads to confusion and contradictions, especially when tactical and strategic differences inevitably emerge.
A position in the ANC "top six" would possibly have allowed Mr Vavi to play a broader political leadership role, after serving four terms in the federation.
However, two previous general secretaries of Cosatu --- Jay Naidoo and Mbhazima Shilowa --- who both stood for ANC leadership positions after leaving the federation, failed to forge successful careers in politics, after losing their power base in the unions.
An elevation to the top structures of the ANC would also not be assured. Although Mr Vavi was at the forefront of the group that toppled Thabo Mbeki as president of the ANC, he has been stridently critical of the Zuma administration as well.
His constant criticism of the ANC, including corruption in its ranks and its fiscal and monetary policy stance, has distanced him from the group backing Mr Zuma at Luthuli House. He has also fallen out with ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, a dependable defender of Mr Zuma.
Cosatu's election will come three months before the ANC's Mangaung conference. If Mr Vavi is re-elected as general secretary, he could be one of the strongest voices in the last few months before the Mangaung elections.
Cosatu is divided between unions sharing Mr Vavi's critical stance and those strongly backing a second term for Mr Zuma, includ ing Cosatu president S'dumo Dlamini.
In an effort to build unity in the federation, the central executive committee decided last year it was premature to discuss leadership succession. Last week, it reiterated this, saying Cosatu members would be encouraged to "evaluate the leadership of the ANC at the right time".
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