Unifying the Alliance: ANC, SACP, COSATU in 3-day Meeting

Sunday 28 June 2015 - 7:28am

PRETORIA - The tripartite alliance summit continues in Pretoria on Sunday.

Forging unity in the alliance and in particular Cosatu took centre stage at the group's meeting yesterday.

The summit is closed to the media, but sources confirm that up for discussion will be:

·    Inherent organisational weaknesses driven by factionalism

·    Corruption and self-enrichment among members

·    Complacency in government and not working for the betterment of society

It's also apparent that central to the unity of the alliance will be harmony within Cosatu.

The labour federation has been beset by infighting, manifested in the expulsion of General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and  Numsa.

“We are dealing with constructive criticism here and Cosatu is the very first organisation to agree up front that we are faced with challenges," said Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini.

"And we are coming to our allies to listen to how they see us and to listen how we are going to be helping each other to strengthen Cosatu – but also to strengthen the allies themselves.

"Because we need each other – allies need one another – we can’t do without one another.”

"Sorry for having supported Zuma"

Meanwhile, The SACP has been at pains to reject a story that party regions have turned their backs on President Jacob Zuma.

The Mail & Guardian on Friday reported the party was sorry for supporting him at the ANC’s elective conference in 2007.

The allegations are said to be contained in a discussion document, released before the party’s special congress.

But the SACP slammed the newspaper report, ahead of this weekend's special summit.

“We must make sure that we deepen our unity and expose all those forces that are trying to cause division within the alliance," said SACP General Secretary, Blade Nzimande.

- eNCA