Cosatu: Workers have run out of patience with the ANC
Trade Union Federation Cosatu says it will hold an urgent Special Central Committee meeting to deal with the cancellation of its main workers day event in Bloemfontein on Monday.
The rally was cancelled before President Jacob Zuma could deliver his keynote address.
Scuffles broke out between those who support him, and those demanding he step down.
Some of those attending were adamant that Zuma was not going to be given a chance to speak - and he was forced to leave.
The entire event was abruptly cancelled.
Now COSATU says the events need to be discussed.
Both COSATU and the SACP have urged the president to leave office, after his earlier cabinet reshuffle.
Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla says they understand the workers' grievances with regards to the ANC's leadership.
"While we find the disruptions regrettable, we also understand that workers have run out of patience with the ANC and more so with its leadership. We have really been patient since 2000, where we had hoped this ANC was going to deliver and take people out of poverty" says Pamla.
He says all they see within the ruling party, is individuals fighting for positions.
"There is very little action coming from government and all we see is individuals who are fighting each other for positions. The Central Committee will deal with the state of the alliance and the state of the ANC, this will help us reflect on where we stand. For now we will attend the alliance's political council meeting that has been called. We will raise some of the problematic tendencies that have emerged" says Pamla.
Pamla says they saw crowds that were allegedly rented to disrupt the event in defense of President Jacob Zuma.
This he says, cannot be accepted.
Earlier today, the president responded to the events on Monday, at the World Economic Forum on Africa being held in Durban.
A defiant Zuma says the masses have elected him, and have not rejected him.
"I am an African, I was elected by Africans. What is your problem? You are imagining other masses. Why do you discard the huge majority that has elected the government?" he responded to journalists.
Zuma says he is not worried about the political situation in the country.
" South Africa is a democratic country and in any other democratic country there is talk and debate. Only in autocratic countries that is limited. I am very happy that democracy is maturing in South Africa. The masses, the leaders and analysts have the right to express their views," says Zuma.