Cosatu warns Malema
2012-08-26 14:35
Johannesburg - Cosatu "will deal" with expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema and Amcu president Joseph Mathenjwa, the union federation's president Sdumo Dlamini said on Sunday.
Cosatu was warning Friends of ANCYL and Malema to "stop walking" on the bodies of the dead mineworkers, said Dlamini.
"For the first time Cosatu is issuing a direct warning to Malema to stop using the Lonmin mine tragedy for his personal agenda."
At least 34 striking mineworkers were killed when police opened fire on them during a strike at Lonmin's Marikana mine. Around 78 were injured.
At least 10 people, who included two police officers and two security guards, were killed in preceding week.
Dlamini was speaking at a YCLSA public lecture held in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni.
Splinter unions
Also present at the event were ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe, YCLSA secretary general Buti Manamela and SACP deputy chairpersonThulas Nxesi.
Dlamini said Cosatu was under attack from Malema, Amcu president Mathunjwa and former Satawu president Ephraim Mphahlele.
Mphahlele resigned from Satawu two weeks ago to join a splinter union.
There was an orchestrated plan to weaken Cosatu, said Dlamini.
"To be able to weaken the ANC, they see it fit to weaken Cosatu. Theirs is a political agenda that seeks to replace the ANC leadership."
He said with 2.2 million members, Cosatu was a "formidable" power from which everyone wanted a stake.
Mathunjwa was expelled from NUM due to ill-discipline years back when Mantashe was the union's secretary general.
Crusade
"Amcu will be defeated... NUM will remain a strong union for the workers."
He said Mathunjwa and Malema were on a crusade for revenge because they were expelled from NUM and the ANC respectively.
Malema had never worked a day in his life, said Dlamini.
"He has never received a payslip... he will never understand what workers go through."
The Lonmin mine incident was the last straw for Cosatu as far as Malema was concerned, he said.
On Thursday, MPs walked out of the memorial service held for the victims while Malema spoke, attacking government.
Dlamini said Malema was no longer a member of the ANC.
"Malema has been expelled. He may be making noises which people want to hear... but he is no longer within the movement."
- SAPA
