ANC split: Union eyes members
2008-10-16 07:26
Johannesburg - Members of the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union will be monitored by their regional leadership to ensure they do not participate in ANC break-away meetings.
"Our regional leadership must provide strong and decisive leadership by ensuring that they carefully monitor our members not to take part in these meetings," Ceppwawu said in a statement on Wednesday.
Spokesperson Cedric Maluleke said the alliance structures at the grassroots needed to be strong in order to "defeat any form of infiltration of our members by this group of dissidents".
Former Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa resigned on Tuesday and said he would back former defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota's plans for a national convention.
Maluleke said Ceppwawu was "highly disturbed and disappointed" by the statements made by Lekota, which undermined the ANC leadership.
"His attack on Cosatu and SACP leadership... accusing them of hijacking the ANC, demonstrates his lack of understanding of the role of the alliance despite being the chairperson of the ANC for ten years," Maluleka said.
He said Ceppwawu was "fully" behind ANC president Jacob Zuma, the ANC and the alliance.
Maluleke said Ceppwawu would focus on next year's elections as well as confronting the challenges that would come with the formation of a break away party.
- SAPA