COSATU president slams detractors
Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini on Monday slammed those who “had written the trade federation union’s orbituary” in the run up to the federation’s elective congress and its 30th anniversary.
“Books have been written by former SACP members who say Cosatu is in crisis… go read that book comrades, but please do not buy it. We do not support those who seek to destroy this federation,” Dlamini said to a loud applause from delegates.
Dlamini was referring to a book released ahead of the congress, titled “Cosatu in Crisis: The Fragmentation of An African Trade Federation”.
The authors have analysed the problems within Cosatu in the volume spanning its 30-year history.
The foreword was written by former Cosatu secretary Zwelinzima Vavi. Dlamini said no one was allowed to write off Cosatu, especially when they do not talk to the federation.
“The foreword in that book was written two years ago comrades, written by people who are not members of Cosatu unions…no one should be allowed to write some Cosatu obituary, more so when they do not make an effort to speak to us before doing that,” he said.
Vavi was axed from Cosatu for misconduct earlier this year.
Dlamini said the country’s biggest trade union federation was on its way to becoming a a way to be a united organisation once again.
“You sitting here, will go down in history that in a moment before Cosatu’s 30th anniversary, a time where the federation was pulled from all directions by those trying to destroy it… you here will count as those who said ‘no’ and refused to be destroyed.”