ANC, Cosatu urged to meet over rift
2010-11-03 16:45
Johannesburg - The ANC and the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) should urgently meet and discuss their recent impasse, the National Union of Mineworkers (Num) said on Wednesday.
This after ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe accused Cosatu of being "oppositionist" for not inviting the ruling party to a conference which criticised the government's economic policies.
"The National Union of Mineworkers calls on the ANC to indeed hold a meeting with Cosatu to resolve whatever differences and to refrain from public spats as pronounced by the president at the recent National General Council," Num general secretary Frans Baleni said in a statement.
The union, which is affiliated to Cosatu, said it was shocked by the allegations that Cosatu's apparent oppositionist stance could potentially lead to embarking on regime change.
"It is totally unacceptable for an ally to question another ally‘s bonafides in public as that amount to a public spat," Baleni said.
The ANC interpreted not being invited as a sign that Cosatu was critical of it and the government.
"We therefore make a call to the ANC to quickly convene the long overdue Alliance Summit to deal with all outstanding matters," the Num said.
- SAPA
