'Govt sought to emasculate ANC'

2008-04-11 20:34

Cape Town - Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi on Friday accused President Thabo Mbeki's government of deliberately seeking to emasculate the ANC.

A new style of political leadership was required, he told the National Union of Metalworkers in the Eastern Cape.

"We are greatly encouraged by the (ANC national conference in) Polokwane delegates' decisive rejection of the undemocratic and materialistic culture in our movement and in society as a whole."

One of the worst aspects of this culture was that development of new policies was left in the hands of an elite minority of government ministers, civil servants, business consultants and academics.

Increasingly those who questioned this new culture were subjected to bullying, insults and labelling to try to keep them quiet.

"Democratic space was closed down... Debates ended and a culture of sycophancy and praise singing was rewarded with plum jobs in government and parastatals," Vavi said.

Power shifted from the membership and structures to the Union Buildings.

"Capacity at Luthuli House is today almost non-existent. All brains moved with power to the state.

"This was deliberate and sought to emasculate the ANC so that it would have no capacity to develop policy, or monitor and enforce its policies."

Materialism and self-centredness become the order of the day, he said.

State institutions were used to resolve political battles and leadership contests.

The public broadcaster was also used in these "factional battles".

"We talk here, comrades, about the history of use of the bourgeoisie's media to assassinate the character of the targeted leaders."

Creation of decent work and restructuring of the economy had to become "supreme national priorities", with strategies to accelerate growth and distribute the benefits to the poorest sections of our society, he said.

"Now the ANC has adopted a much more democratic and inclusive approach to policy issues. The space has been opened. The ANC is being returned to its rightful owners, the members.

"There is a genuine national debate that has revitalised the tripartite alliance," Vavi said.

- SAPA