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BROTHERS IN ARMS: President Jacob Zuma and Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi at Cosatu's 11th National Congress at Gallagher Estate in Midrand. Photo: GCIS

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The union federation's top leadership were retained unopposed while the fractured affiliates united in song, praising the president.

All of Cosatu's national office bearers - president Sdumo Dlamini, first deputy president Tyotyo James, second deputy president Zingiswa Losi, general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, deputy general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali and treasurer Freida Oosthuizen - retained their positions.

This is the same group that stood steadfastly behind Zuma's elevation to the top job at both the ANC and the country.

Zuma's speech also struck the right chords with the delegates at Cosatu's 11th National Congress at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, as he emphasised the importance of the alliance.

But Zuma also warned that the ongoing strikes within the mining sector have the potential of plunging the economy into another recession, which would cost millions of jobs.

He cautioned that the ongoing impasse at Lonmin mine in Marikana and other mines was not only a problem to the mining industry, but had a detrimental effect on the entire economy.

"The impact goes beyond the mining sector. The manufacturing sector, especially the Fabricated Metal Products sector, is already showing signs of strain. We cannot afford to go into a recession and revert to the 2008 and 2009 period where the country lost close to a million jobs, which we are still battling to recover," Zuma said.

The ongoing work stoppages in the platinum and gold sectors in the past nine months had already cost R4.5-billion in lost production.

Zuma commended Cosatu for its "maturity" in retaining its leadership without contest, adding that the outcome was a lesson to the entire alliance. He also took the opportunity to attack his political detractors, whom he accused of using the Marikana tragedy to score cheap political points.

Comparing government intervention in Marikana to apartheid was being disingenuous as the government's intention was to stabilise the situation, he said.

Zuma also called on the mining companies to implement the Mining Charter. His speech was preceded by that of Dlamini, who also alluded to the Marikana tragedy .

Dlamini, who has emerged as Zuma's key supporter in Cosatu, cautioned delegates that tensions within the federation were tactical and should not be regarded as "strategic differences."

"We will not go to Mangaung divided, but we will go there with a clear class agenda to defend and advance the progressive outcomes of Polokwane," Dlamini said.

Comments

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Mon May 20 04:41:08 SAST 2013 ::

Sep 18, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

Congrats to all of you who were elected unopposed, lets do the samething in Mangaung Viva!!!!
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Sep 18, 2012

ancnduntsu

I thought Mshosholozi was using viagra to boost his spear.
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Sep 18, 2012

Ukadebona

Viva !!

United we stand! Progress !
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Sep 18, 2012

Tango

I see the same thing happening in Mangaung
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Sep 18, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

ancnduntsu
What are you on about?
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Sep 18, 2012

hell

I have cancelled my NUM membership last week.
The reason is that I feel they don’t represent me anymore.
So far what the interim committee at Lonmin what they have achieve as write now surpass all the settlement that NUM has ever achieve on the mine. Let alone the current deal that was the workers we still tied by NUM.

I think the way forward is just to form a temporary committee every time when salary negotiations are to start in every company. unions failed us, is a fact

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Sep 18, 2012

Phathuza

Cosatu is at it again , Zuma is not fit for the office finish and klaar and I wont vote for that man
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Sep 18, 2012

Muzic

Boost for zuma??????? what boost? how many of those ppl will voting in mangaung come on man.
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Sep 18, 2012

NDA

Something fishy.
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Sep 18, 2012

somaartakeit

Sowetan get your facts right, zuma second term is supported by sdumo dlamini not Cosatu as you claim. Most anc leaders with exception of kzn and FreeState are against zuma's second term, with/out the malema saga solemnly on his performance as a party and country leader. Malema is just a side show of the mess the anc has become.
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