City Press reports that trade union federation Cosatu will use the ANC policy conference in June next year as a springboard to solidify its support base for Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa ahead of the elective conference in December.  

This was discussed during a three-day sitting of the federation’s central executive committee (CEC), which resolved to make a pronouncement on who should succeed President Jacob Zuma as president of the ANC.  While not all unions were entirely sold on endorsing Ramaphosa, they were persuaded by the majority.  Those who had to be persuaded included Popcru, CWU, Samwu, Satawu and new affiliate the Liberated Metalworkers’ Union of SA (Limusa).  The meeting was a difficult one for Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini, who had previously insisted that Cosatu would not repeat the mistake of making a public pronouncement on ANC succession.

• Read this report by Hlengiwe Nhlabathi and S’thembile Cele in full at City Press
• Read too, Cyril vs Nkosazana: Cosatu gets succession ball rolling, at Sunday Independent

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page