THE National Union of Mine Workers president Zenzeni Zokwana compared a faction in the union that wants to contest leadership positions as being like "baboons".
Zokwana was speaking at the first day of the union's congress in Kempton Park yesterday. He labelled those nominated to positions as "thankless" and of launching their campaign by using resources of employers who were exploiting them.
TheNUM is due to hold its elective congress where Zokwana's position will be contested by Joseph Montisetse, while general secretary Frans Baleni is up against deputy Oupa Komane. The elections take place on Saturday.
"You cannot depend on companies to give you resources to campaign, you are using a company car to campaign against NUM," he said.
"I was told a story when I was young that the only way of feeding a baboon is with your hand so that at all times it can depend on you for food. If you can sign a deal with an employer that if you succeed to win there will be no strikes, you are not different to a baboon," he said.
He defended the perceived sidelining of Cosatu secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi from speaking at the congress, claiming there was no tension between Vavi and leaders of the unions.
The fact that he was not going to address the congress had nothing to do with his alleged opposition to the re-election of President Jacob Zuma. Vavi attended the congress but sat among delegates.
Zokwana slated union members for their lack of "solidarity and sympathy" for contesting NUM deputy president Piet Matosa.
"As we meet here today, amongst ourselves, there is one of us who was attacked in Impala (mine). He is today disabled. He was deployed by the union to go and do union work and he was attacked.
"Our comrades have no sense of sympathy, no sense of solidarity comrades, you were even considering getting rid of him. You speak of solidarity and yet you cannot practise it. How heartless can you be to even contest a person who has sacrificed his limb for NUM?
"He suffered disability yet NUM is now thankless and his position is being contested," Zokwana said, calling on workers to unite and build up patriotism against patronage.
NUM leader says faction behaving like 'baboons'
THE National Union of Mine Workers president Zenzeni Zokwana compared a faction in the union that wants to contest leadership positions as being like "baboons".
Zokwana was speaking at the first day of the union's congress in Kempton Park yesterday. He labelled those nominated to positions as "thankless" and of launching their campaign by using resources of employers who were exploiting them.
TheNUM is due to hold its elective congress where Zokwana's position will be contested by Joseph Montisetse, while general secretary Frans Baleni is up against deputy Oupa Komane. The elections take place on Saturday.
"You cannot depend on companies to give you resources to campaign, you are using a company car to campaign against NUM," he said.
"I was told a story when I was young that the only way of feeding a baboon is with your hand so that at all times it can depend on you for food. If you can sign a deal with an employer that if you succeed to win there will be no strikes, you are not different to a baboon," he said.
He defended the perceived sidelining of Cosatu secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi from speaking at the congress, claiming there was no tension between Vavi and leaders of the unions.
The fact that he was not going to address the congress had nothing to do with his alleged opposition to the re-election of President Jacob Zuma. Vavi attended the congress but sat among delegates.
Zokwana slated union members for their lack of "solidarity and sympathy" for contesting NUM deputy president Piet Matosa.
"As we meet here today, amongst ourselves, there is one of us who was attacked in Impala (mine). He is today disabled. He was deployed by the union to go and do union work and he was attacked.
"Our comrades have no sense of sympathy, no sense of solidarity comrades, you were even considering getting rid of him. You speak of solidarity and yet you cannot practise it. How heartless can you be to even contest a person who has sacrificed his limb for NUM?
"He suffered disability yet NUM is now thankless and his position is being contested," Zokwana said, calling on workers to unite and build up patriotism against patronage.