COSATU cautions everyone against premature ANC leadership debates
13 November 2015
The Congress of South African Trade Unions has noted the media reports, claiming that it has thrown its weight behind the Deputy President, Cde Cyril Ramaphosa, as its preferred candidate to be the next president of the ANC. COSATU want to make it clear that none of its constitutional structures have debated and decided on the ANC succession issue (see Sowetan report).
COSATU is going to its 12th National congress in a week’s time where all the issues will be on the table for discussion. The delegates will have an opportunity to engage with the broader political questions and decide the position of the federation.
The federation took a position after the 52nd Polokwane Conference of the ANC that it will no longer declare its preferred candidates and that decision still holds.
We want to caution everyone against entering into premature and leadership debates that will defocus both the movement and the alliance ;away from the urgent issues of service delivery.
Our immediate priority and focus should be on defending and advancing the progressive policies of the ANC, as adopted by both the Polokwane and Mangaung conferences.
Statement issued by Sizwe Pamla, COSATU National Spokesperson, 13 November 2015
