TimesLive reports that President Jacob Zuma called S’dumo Dlamini, president of Cosatu, on Tuesday morning to discuss the trade union federation’s call for him to step down.  

"I wish this call could have come on Thursday last week because it would have saved the federation from this situation we are now in.  But we have to note the call is important and [we] have to listen to what the president will say," Dlamini commented.  Asked whether or not the federation would retract its decision after the phone call from the president, Dlamini said it would "consider" that option.  He was briefing the media after the party's special central executive committee meeting on Monday and indicated that Cosatu's message to the president was loud and clear, namely that he must resign.  Cosatu had previously endorsed deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa to take over as ANC president when Zuma's term comes to an end in December.

• Read this report by Neo Goba in full at TimesLive
• See too, Cosatu agrees to meet with Zuma after request for discussions, at EWN

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