JOHANNESBURG - The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) plans to raise its concerns with the ANC following chairperson Gwede Mantashe’s walkout from the federation’s reconvened 15th National Congress.
Cosatu has rejected suggestions that the gathering descended into chaos, saying the incident instead exposed members’ frustration with what it describes as an attitude of arrogance from Mantashe.
The ANC chairperson walked out of the congress on Monday after refusing to address delegates before the South African Communist Party (SACP).
Cosatu’s outgoing second deputy president, Duncan Luvuno, said the federation was disappointed by Mantashe’s actions and would seek a meeting with the ANC at Luthuli House.
“It was not chaos per se. However, it was our members expressing their disappointment at the arrogance shown, not by the ANC, but by the chair of the ANC,” Luvuno said.
He said the incident was not the first of its kind and that COSATU wanted to make its position clear to the governing party.
“We are going to make a point of meeting with the ANC to express our disappointment and reject what we see as a ‘Big Brother Syndrome’ that the ANC chairperson perpetually displays,” he said.
Read more | Mantashe says he won't sacrifice principle for convenience
Mantashe has defended his decision, saying he would not abandon principle for convenience. He had insisted that the ANC traditionally delivers its message of support after the SACP.
The congress reconvened on Monday after the previous gathering collapsed last month amid disagreements over leadership and internal disputes.
Delegates are expected to elect new leaders.