By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) head of economic transformation and national executive council member, Mmamoloko Kubayi, said the programme at the Cosatu conference has been amended and that the ANC would address its alliance partner on Tuesday.
“The ANC delegation will be there for the duration of the conference… We will be contributing to engagements and discussions that Cosatu will be having as alliance partners. We did that with the SACP.”
ANC chairperson and one-time labour bigwig, Gwede Mantashe, was shown the door on Monday at the Cosatu national congress.
Some delegates told Mantashe to “go to hell”. This incident was not the first time that workers have expressed anger towards the leadership of the ANC. In May, workers refused to be addressed by President Cyril Ramahosa after he tried to address them during a May Day rally.
However after two days of hoping delegates would eventually allow the ANC to deliver its message of support, ANC members gave up and walked out of Cosatu’s conference on Tuesday.
Addressing the media on his way out, Mantashe said it was shameful Cosatu would file for a divorce from the ANC in public.
“We were whispering among ourselves, asking, why does the party serve its divorce papers in public, they must send them to us privately so that we can read them and respond to their concerns.”
He made it clear he the ANC would not be pushovers.
“I was there yesterday [Monday], I was there today [Tuesday], and I have not been allowed to speak.
“What transpired means the alliance is weak; it has weakened a great deal. What needs to be done now is that we need to meet and try and rebuild it,” said Mantashe.
He added the ANC leaving the congress did not mean an end between the alliance partners. Mantashe said he wished Cosatu well as the congress continued until Thursday.
Compounding the ANC’s woes, its other alliance partner, the SACP, took a swipe at it when it delivered a message of support on Tuesday.
SACP general-secretary Solly Mapaila bemoaned how the ANC had degenerated to a point where criminally charged members were standing for elections on its “ticket”.
“The grounds have shifted. When talking about changing the balance of power inside-outside, the grounds have shifted. The working class can no longer afford to be pacified.
“Criminals are now contesting elections for the ANC – how are criminals better than revolutionaries [members of the SACP],” said Mapaila.
He added it was about time the SACP contested elections against the ANC.
“Let me be clear about this matter; some comrades said the SACP is not ready to contest elections; that is not true. Let me say it this way, the SACP is ready, comrades. The SACP is ready full stop.