Irate Mbeki faces down Cosatu

2004-10-28 23:27

Willem Jordaan and Deon de Lange

Cape Town - Tension in the governing alliance regarding the Congress of South African Trade Unions' Zimbabwean mission has resulted in President Thabo Mbeki having to crack the whip in the African National Congress caucus.

While his remarks in this arena were interpreted as a warning to Cosatu, the organisation has dug in its heels and said it reserves the right to differ with the government and the ANC regarding Zimbabwe.

Earlier, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota also clearly expressed his irritation with Cosatu when he said they did not confer with their alliance partners beforehand and that the fact-finding mission was an embarrassment to the ANC.

Mbeki's loyalists in the ANC expressed themselves strongly about Cosatu's action and termed it "irresponsible games which do not contribute anything towards solving the crisis in Zimbabwe".

In government circles, Cosatu's decision to continue with its mission in spite of objections by the Zimbabwean government has been described as "unnecessary embarrassment".

'Remained true to its mandate'

On the other hand, there was understanding among leftwing ANC members, who had ties with the SA Communist Party and Cosatu, for Cosatu's views.

A senior ANC member said: "Cosatu has remained true to its mandate from the workers of South Africa and their comrades in Zimbabwe.

"This is more than can be said of the Zimbabwean and South African governments."

Three of the most-important ANC heavyweights turned up at the ANC caucus meeting - Mbeki, deputy president Jacob Zuma and Lekota.

According to informed sources, Mbeki did not mince his words and said he wanted to know the reasons for Cosatu's actions.

In the caucus, Mbeki's words were understood to be a warning to Cosatu.

Approached for comment, Mbeki spokesperson Bheki Khumalo said foreign affairs was dealing with the matter and the president had no comment.

Asked how he interpreted Mbeki's remarks to the caucus, Khumalo said: "That is an ANC matter."

Meanwhile, Cosatu deputy secretary-general Bheki Ntshalintshali said in Johannesburg his organisation had the right to differ with the ANC on how the crisis in Zimbabwe should be solved.

He reacted to allegations that Cosatu had acted "irresponsibly" in sending a fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe without prior approval from the government.

"What does the ANC expect us to do?" asked Ntshalintshali.

Don't agree with the government

"There is certainly nothing wrong with trying to establish exactly where matters in Zimbabwe stand, at grassroots level.

"The ANC and the government have their own ideas on how to deal with the Zimbabwean crisis.

"However, we do not agree with them."

Acording to Ntshalintshali, Cosatu had been invited by their comrades in the Zimbabwean Confederation of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and nothing was done under a cloak of secrecy.

"We did not contravene any laws and I cannot understand why the South African government now says that we acted irresponsibly."

- Beeld