COSATU president Sdumo Dlamini has warned the labour federation's leaders that divisions among them had weakened them, causing them not to focus on key programmes for the poor.
Dlamini told union leaders most of them last saw the masses when they were elected. He made the remarks at the opening of Cosatu's central executive committee meeting in Johannesburg on Monday. The meeting was attended by the leaders of its 22 affiliates.
Dlamini said there was a dangerous increase in the exclusive focus on an individual at the expense of recognising the role of the masses.
"My observation is that there is a leadership stampede among us about who must come out as having led the popular masses to a socialist victory," he said.
"Within this context we undermine each other, sidestep each other, where possible drag each other down and claim our independence even at the expense of the very revolution we are pursuing."
Cosatu was rattled by succession battles after its general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, announced that he would not stand for re-election next year.
Vavi later said he had made his announcement too early and that Cosatu members would decide his future.
Dlamini wanted to know if Cosatu would be able to handle the financial crisis currently happening internationally if they hit South Africa. He said it might be impossible since the leaders were not united in fighting for the masses.
"No organisation, let alone a revolution, can be effectively led by people who have no confidence in each other, no matter how intelligent and articulate they might be as individuals. No democratic organisation can go forward in its mission when its elected leadership gets undermined by the very people who elected them," he said.
Dlamini told the union leaders that they were put in their positions to lead.
"Comrades, let's do the most basic things first and one of those is to respect each other as leaders, confront each other without being vindictive, support each other and develop each other where we have weaknesses.
He said the the masses that were at the coal face of the painful reality of poverty, inequality and unemployment were getting into action as happened in Egypt, US and in Europe recently.
Divisions are weakening us - Cosatu boss
COSATU president Sdumo Dlamini has warned the labour federation's leaders that divisions among them had weakened them, causing them not to focus on key programmes for the poor.
Dlamini told union leaders most of them last saw the masses when they were elected. He made the remarks at the opening of Cosatu's central executive committee meeting in Johannesburg on Monday. The meeting was attended by the leaders of its 22 affiliates.
Dlamini said there was a dangerous increase in the exclusive focus on an individual at the expense of recognising the role of the masses.
"My observation is that there is a leadership stampede among us about who must come out as having led the popular masses to a socialist victory," he said.
"Within this context we undermine each other, sidestep each other, where possible drag each other down and claim our independence even at the expense of the very revolution we are pursuing."
Cosatu was rattled by succession battles after its general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, announced that he would not stand for re-election next year.
Vavi later said he had made his announcement too early and that Cosatu members would decide his future.
Dlamini wanted to know if Cosatu would be able to handle the financial crisis currently happening internationally if they hit South Africa. He said it might be impossible since the leaders were not united in fighting for the masses.
"No organisation, let alone a revolution, can be effectively led by people who have no confidence in each other, no matter how intelligent and articulate they might be as individuals. No democratic organisation can go forward in its mission when its elected leadership gets undermined by the very people who elected them," he said.
Dlamini told the union leaders that they were put in their positions to lead.
"Comrades, let's do the most basic things first and one of those is to respect each other as leaders, confront each other without being vindictive, support each other and develop each other where we have weaknesses.
He said the the masses that were at the coal face of the painful reality of poverty, inequality and unemployment were getting into action as happened in Egypt, US and in Europe recently.
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