COSATU president Willie Madisha axed
By Anele Siwa
28 February 2008
On Wednesday morning Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) released its president, Willie Madisha from his duties, for bringing the union federation into disrepute.
Madisha was last year suspended following his claim that he handed R500 000 to South African Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande, a claim that Nzimande denied.
COSATU’s Central Executive Committee has welcomed the Commission’s ruling and recommendations.
“The CEC collectively resolved to release Willie Madisha as president of COSATU in terms of Clause 9.6.1.3 of COSATU constitution,” says COSATU national spokesperson Patrick Craven.
An acting president will be selected at the following CEC in May 2008.
Madisha is believed to have made statements which were seen as an attack on Zuma, and had urged members not to vote for immoral leaders.
“At the time that this allegation emerged there were lots of tensions concerning the COSATU congress and various destabilizing features that emanated from the succession issue within the ANC,” says Zwelethu Jolobe, a political analyst and lecturer at the of Cape Town.
“I don’t think the issue was about Madisha being pro Mbeki, Madisha questioned the support that COSATU gave to Jacob Zuma, and I think that created tensions within the union, especially with reference to the political direction that the union was taking,” Jolobe elaborates.
28 February 2008
On Wednesday morning Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) released its president, Willie Madisha from his duties, for bringing the union federation into disrepute.
Madisha was last year suspended following his claim that he handed R500 000 to South African Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande, a claim that Nzimande denied.
COSATU’s Central Executive Committee has welcomed the Commission’s ruling and recommendations.“The CEC collectively resolved to release Willie Madisha as president of COSATU in terms of Clause 9.6.1.3 of COSATU constitution,” says COSATU national spokesperson Patrick Craven.
An acting president will be selected at the following CEC in May 2008.
Madisha is believed to have made statements which were seen as an attack on Zuma, and had urged members not to vote for immoral leaders.
“At the time that this allegation emerged there were lots of tensions concerning the COSATU congress and various destabilizing features that emanated from the succession issue within the ANC,” says Zwelethu Jolobe, a political analyst and lecturer at the of Cape Town.
“I don’t think the issue was about Madisha being pro Mbeki, Madisha questioned the support that COSATU gave to Jacob Zuma, and I think that created tensions within the union, especially with reference to the political direction that the union was taking,” Jolobe elaborates.
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