UNITY URGED: Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini addresses a gathering of about 300 people in Port Elizabeth yesterday. Picture: MARK WEST
Federation president goes on charm offensive in Bay
Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini jetted into Nelson Mandela Bay – where his detractors are the strongest – yesterday, claiming the labour federation was on the road to rebuilding itself and restoring unity in the metro.
Dlamini, flanked by ANC national executive committee member Bheki Cele, went on a charm offensive, patting union members on the back for what he said was a job well done in fixing the rift in the region.
Dlamini was speaking at the Department of Education district offices in Sidwell.
Three years ago, Cosatu was ripped apart in Nelson Mandela Bay as a large number of its affiliates backed Numsa and former Cosatu secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi in the leadership squabbles.
When Numsa broke away, it took a large contingent of its members from Cosatu’s power base in the Bay.
At the highly charged meeting yesterday, attended by members of Cosatu affiliates, Dlamini said the federation had been attacked from its strong base in the Bay when the ructions started.
“When things fell apart, it started here. People saw it as fertile [ground],” Dlamini said.
“[With] the history of this region of our country – where the liberation struggle of our people was [vibrant] – they said, ‘let’s go there and attack from right there, and use the grievances that are existing from that point to target each and every Cosatu union, to win in it . . . so when everything falls, the new agenda kicks in’.”
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