The report states the party has fallen behind in elaborating a practical and theoretical perspective on the national democratic revolution and socialism in the context of today's conditions.

Cosatu said the SACP reacted defensively and as a result there is fear they have resorted to dividing Cosatu based on the mistaken perception that certain Cosatu leaders are driving the agenda because of hostility to the party or because they are positioning themselves to lead the SACP.

At this stage, the report says, the relationship has begun to degenerate into mudslinging rather than meaningful engagement.

"This level of debate is not helpful: Some SACP leaders are launching personal attacks and smears aimed at Cosatu general secretary [Zwelinzima Vavi].

"At the recent bilaterals, the SACP argued that there is now the emergence of business unionism in Cosatu and that the union was developing a cult of the personality.

"Some in Cosatu view that the SACP is advancing the real personality cult by proposing to amend its constitution to accommodate an individual and that SACP leaders now have a conflict of interest on various issues the working class is contesting because of their positions in government.

"The SACP in turn has accused Cosatu of being ultra-left and not understanding the importance of state power.

"This growing rift between the two organisations can only delight our class opponents.

"A further problem is differences in our interpretation of the current political situation.

"The SACP interprets the victory of [President Jacob Zuma] and the appointment of its leaders in Cabinet as a major breakthrough, which must be defended at all costs.

"This threatens to bring the pendulum back to the domination of the SACP by government which characterised the situation in 1994 after the loss of late Chris Hani when the party was dominated by a conservative cabinet.

"Who can forget the SACP that was beholden in the state defending Gear [policy] and driving a host of anti-worker programmes such as privatisation during the period between 1994 and 1998?

"This was before 2009 where the current general secretary turned the party into a fighting party with the adoption of various campaigns such as Red October, the campaign on banks and the land question."

The report said the SACP has been sucked too deeply into government, and is losing its dynamism and it is "frankly being compromised by the presence of its top leaders in the executive".

"Example of this is that the current anti-worker proposals contained in the draft bill in Parliament purporting to be addressing violence during strikes and the proposals on essential services have gone through Cabinet," the report stated. "So is the decision to go ahead with the e-tolling despite the ongoing engagement between the ANC and Cosatu on alternative funding on the issue and despite a huge public outcry."

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Sun May 26 05:09:52 SAST 2013 ::

Apr 25, 2012

Papage

IF ANC approved E-Toll, Cosatu must get out of tripartite and be an opposition, we will support it, us the workers, take this government down big time, Vavi will be the president of SA. Viva President Vavi, Viva.
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Apr 25, 2012

lindsay

so it should
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Apr 25, 2012

JajasQueen

@Papage
IF ANC approved E-Toll, Cosatu must get out of tripartite and be an opposition, we will support it, us the workers, take this government down big time, Vavi will be the president of SA. Viva President Vavi, Viva.
__________________________

An opposition what??? Labour union???

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Apr 25, 2012

MommaC

I very much suspect that Vavi is in a huge power play and would happily push for breaking away to form a Labour Party. He is coming over, more and more, as being more 'opposition' than 'partner'. The problem for him is that he won't be able to do it without the SACP and the SACP won't survive without Cosatu.

Would be very interesting to see a breakaway as it is now becoming debatable about who is riding on the coat tails of whom
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Apr 25, 2012

Sinudeity

Good news.
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Apr 25, 2012

Papage

Yes this Country will be ruled by Workers, after all we are the driving force behind the economy of the Counrty and stupid people like those FAt monkeys just reep the harvest.
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Apr 25, 2012

Kone

Viva President Vavi Viva!!!!


How on earth you have seen a communist serving in the capitalist gorvement, advancing the neo-liberal policies at the expence of the power and the working class!...........

We need to get someone to take over from a so communist who have tested the capitalist fruits and power drunk............Blade!
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Apr 25, 2012

Danger1985

Its an intresting dynamic as we see authority being questioned by an alliance partner. Cosatu must howver be resolutes as they have failed the working class before due to the fact that they are in the alliance. They have failed to question certain policies and have sered to rubberstamp them. We only hope they will live to fight for the people and not serve their intrests
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Apr 25, 2012

EMJay_001

MommaC, why do you think "The problem for him is that he won't be able to do it without the SACP"?
dumping the SACP (vanguard party) will unshackle cosatu and make it more attractive to people who are uneasy about communists. The SACP on the other hand is unlikely to stand for and win elections without the ANC and or cosatu....
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Apr 25, 2012

MommaC

EMJay_001

The SACP and Cosatu are pretty intricately entwined. They have become reliant upon each other. Vavi has no political credibility and Blade has no support base. I can't see one of them surviving in a political environment without the other.
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