Business Day
*Cosatu endorses Zuma* *Natasha Marrian, Business Day, Johannesburg, 17 October 2012*THE Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) is endorsing President Jacob Zuma's re-election as president of the African National Congress (ANC) at the party's electoral conference at Mangaung in December.
Cosatu's support aided Mr Zuma's rise to the top position in the ruling party in 2007, but their relations quickly soured. Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi's mounting criticism of the ANC under Mr Zuma's leadership, caused a rift in Cosatu, whose president Sdumo Dlamini is a staunch ally of Mr Zuma.
Cosatu concluded its special central executive committee meeting on Tuesday, where it was decided to endorse Mr Zuma, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and party chairwoman Baleka Mbete.
A trade union leader, who asked to remain anonymous, said Cosatu also supported Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, provided he did not accept nomination to challenge Mr Zuma.
If Mr Motlanthe decided to make himself available for president of the ANC, Cosatu would "engage" with him about staying on as deputy president instead. Cosatu also wanted ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa and deputy secretary-general Thandi Modise out of the party's leadership.
Most Cosatu affiliates told the meeting they wanted the ANC to adopt more radical policies to address inequality. They wanted Mr Zuma to be more "decisive" on issues of national interest and he had to be clearer about his "working class bias".
At Cosatu's congress last month a contest among its divided leadership was averted by a last-minute decision to retain its leadership en bloc. Mr Vavi said at the time that the ANC should learn from Cosatu's approach.
Cosatu's preference for Mr Zuma seems to be more an attempt to help the ANC avoid another bruising leadership battle than a ringing endorsement of Mr Zuma's leadership.
According to another Cosatu source, Mr Vavi told the two-day meeting that it was important to "package" the federation's endorsement appropriately in order to prevent "alienating" anyone.
While Cosatu has opted to give most of the ANC's top six leaders another shot, it took a hard line stance towards the party's national executive committee.
There was consensus on the need to evaluate and strengthen the ANC's national executive committee. Those elected to it should not be on the powerful leadership body if their sole focus was on securing tenders and business opportunities, the Cosatu affiliates decided.
Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven declined to comment, saying a statement on the outcomes of the meeting would be issued later.
***From: http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/politics/2012/10/17/cosatu-endorses-zuma*
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