COSATU National Office Bearers' Statement

The COSATU National Office Bearers (NOBs) met today, 4 March 2013, in their normal scheduled meeting, and reviewed the implementation of the COSATU Central Executive Committee (CEC) decisions on all issues.

COSATU NOBs condemned in the strongest term possible the leaking and misrepresentation of the COSATU internal discussions in the media by unprincipled individuals who claim to have been part of the discussions of the CEC. The leaking and misrepresentation of the last CEC decisions has created an unprecedented negative focus on the federation in the media that presented the workers' organisation as a movement at war with itself.

We appeal to all these people who continue to use the media to launch a media trial against the COSATU General Secretary to forthwith cease their activities (see Sunday Independent report). The COSATU CEC has created a platform for the use of all unions who may have whatever concerns. There is no justification whatsoever for faceless individuals to continue using the media to raise issues, some of which were never raised in the structures of the federation.

We are also disturbed that at least four leaders of COSATU affiliated unions were quoted in the Sunday Times raising completely internal issues in the media from their perspectives. This is against the tradition of the federation and our appeal to every COSATU affiliated union, including its individual leaders, provincial and even staff members, is that they must desist from commenting on internal issues in the public arena.

We also appeal to all our allies and civil society formations to allow COSATU space to manage its internal issues without pressure from outside. We also appeal to the media to allow us space to address our own issues internally.

We have agreed that the General Secretary, who has been unfairly been put on the spot, must rely on the collective of the NOBs and official spokespersons of COSATU to defend him and explain the processes already announced by the CEC. This will include areas where so-called leaders embark on a slander campaign against his person. This does not take away the right of the General Secretary to respond to specific allegations that may arise designed to damage his standing.

Statement issued by the COSATU NOBs, March 4 2013

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