• Tweet

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE: General secretary Mthandeki Nhlapo

Some delegates made the "V" sign with their two fingers, while others were signalling for change, using the sign popular with football fans when they want a player to be changed.

The "V" sign has become a symbol of support for President Jacob Zuma's second term bid, while those who want his deputy Kgalema Motlanthe to take over are identifiable by the change sign.

Although there were no visible signs of tension, as delegates sang the same songs, clashes are expected during the closed sessions. A delegate from Limpopo asked when the leadership of the ANC was going to speak at the congress. This came after delegates were told that the ANC leadership was still deciding who was to represent the party.

However, it later emerged that NEC member Enoch Godongwana will address the gathering today.

Samwu's general secretary Mthandeki Nhlapo told Sowetan that they had sent invitations to the ANC, the SACP and Cosatu in June.

On Wednesday, SACP chairman Senzeni Zokwana, second deputy president of Cosatu Zukiswa Losi and Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Richard Baloyi spoke at the congress.

Baloyi came after members had rejected a speech by an official from his department.

In his address, Nhlapo called on members to embark on a recruitment campaign.

"We have more than 160000 members and there is nothing stopping us from reaching 200000. There are more than 40000 people who don't belong to Samwu. We are the majority union in this sector and should remain that," he said.

He called on women to start taking senior positions within the union from shop stewards, provincial and national leadership positions.

Nhlapo said many shop stewards were getting old and leaving the organisation, adding young people should be involved in leadership positions.

He said many municipalities were outsourcing services and others were affected by corruption

The union's new leadership will officially be announced by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). - ntwagaes@sowetan.co.za

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Wed Jun 19 16:51:48 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 10, 2012

Phogolekp21

Zuma is deviding the ANC,All ANC members must vote him out in Mangaung,Cosatu is devided,Sacp is also devided,friends are also devided because of Zuma,Sadtu is devided we are going to end up fighting each other for Positions,We will be like other African Countries who are fighting to lead.
Report Abuse

Aug 10, 2012

Phogolekp21

Zuma is dividing the ANC,All ANC members must vote him out in Mangaung,Cosatu is divided,Sacp is also divided,friends are also divided because of Zuma,Sadtu is divided we are going to end up fighting each other for Positions,We will be like other African Countries who are fighting to lead.

Report Abuse

Aug 10, 2012

Patsekg

Phogolekp21, why do you have to single out Zuma as a person who is dividing the ANC? Don't you think Motlanthe is dividing the ANC as well, because there are people who support him while others support Zuma? For me really, Zuma is not dividing the party, it is the people who want to see Zuma replaced who are causing these divisions in the organisation. The fact that Zuma is still President means that we should all rally behind him, help him lead the ANC without any problems, instead, those people that were suppose to help him to lead are now working against him and that is what is causing divisions not Zuma. Zuma is presently a leader, and he need the support of Motlanthe and Tokyo to help him lead successfully but they don't want to support him. Motlanthe should have been the first one to speak against those who are insulting Zuma if he was really supportive and not having his own personal ambitions. Zuma has been rediculed several times by the same people who are causing divisions in the organisation, the same people who support Motlanthe, yet Mr Motlanthe has never said a word to rebuke them for insulting Zuma. Now you come with these lies to tell us that it is Zuma who is causing the divisions, yet you can't even prove it.
Report Abuse

Read all 3 comments