Tuesday, October 30, 2007

ANC Statement on Attacks by COSATU's Zwelinzima Vavi

ANC STATEMENT ON CONTINUED ATTACKS ON THE ANC BY ZWELINZIMA VAVI

29 October 2007

The African National Congress is disturbed by what appears to be a sustained and irresponsible campaign by COSATU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi to undermine the members and leadership of the ANC.

His continued unwarranted attacks on the leadership of the ANC is a matter of concern to all those who want to see the Alliance united to further its primary objective of improving the living conditions of our people.

Leaders of the Alliance are expected to act responsibly and conduct themselves in an exemplary manner befitting of a leader of the mass democratic movement.

We find as unfortunate, unfounded and divisive statements attributed to Vavi suggesting that the re-election of ANC President Thabo Mbeki as party leader will divide the Alliance.

The ANC expresses its unequivocal rejection of this totally unacceptable attempt to tell the ANC how it should constitute its leadership.

We wish to state once again that the decision of who should lead the ANC is the exclusive right of ANC branches and should be respected.

We urge Vavi to desist from theatrical gimmicks that have nothing to do with the future of the Alliance.

The ANC further advises anyone wishing to participate in the process of electing ANC leaders to do so through the appropriate channels, as members of ANC branches.

Issued by African National Congress

For more information contact: Smuts Ngonyama on 082 994 2112 or Tiyani Rikhotso on 0798 79 79 74


JOHANNESBURG

ANC lambastes Vavi for 'theatrics'

Tue, 30 Oct 2007

Congress of South African Trade Unions general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi's statement that President Thabo Mbeki's re-election to the ANC presidency would divide the tripartite alliance was unfounded and divisive, the ANC said on Monday.

"The ANC is disturbed by what appears to be a sustained and irresponsible campaign by Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi," the party said in a statement.

"We urge Vavi to desist from theatrical gimmicks that have nothing to do with the future of the alliance," it said.

On Saturday, Vavi told the 63rd anniversary celebrations of the ANC Youth League in Galeshewe that a status quo in the ANC leadership would ruin the alliance.

"We shouldn't say don't interfere in our affairs when we in fact work together all the time. We want to close the chapter of division," Vavi said.

He said he was not mistaken when he said a Jacob Zuma presidency was an unstoppable tsunami.

In an unprecedented move last month, Cosatu's central executive committee released names of the ANC leadership they envisaged working with after the party's 52nd congress in Limpopo.

The list did not include Mbeki and had Zuma as president.

"His continued unwarranted attacks on the leadership of the ANC is a matter of concern," the ANC said.

It said: "Leaders of the alliance are expected to act responsibly and conduct themselves in an exemplary manner befitting a leader of the mass democratic movement.

"We wish to state once again that the decision of who should lead the ANC is the exclusive right of ANC branches and should be respected."

Sapa

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