Cosatu: Mbeki's grip too tight
2005-09-04 17:19
Johannesburg - South Africa's governing alliance is in crisis following the recent sacking of President Thabo Mbeki's former deputy Jacob Zuma over allegations of corruption, the South African newspaper Sunday Times reported.
All parties of the alliance - the ANC, Cosatu and the SACP - were divided internally over the course of the government, Cosatu leader Zwelinzima Vavi wrote in an editorial.
"No one can doubt that we face a political crisis.... Now divisions are evident within the ANC itself, the SACP and even Cosatu," Vavi wrote.
"There is widespread concern about where the economy is going. In these circumstances, for many alliance activists the Zuma case has been the last straw," he added.
Accusing Mbeki of political conspiracy, the unionists and the communists had both demanded that the investigation against Zuma should be stopped and the former deputy President reinstated into his old office.
Vavi said the alliance members were also opposed Mbeki's allegedly overly tight grip onto the government.
- SAPA