IOL News reports that pressure is mounting on Cosatu to make a final decision on whether to allow President Zuma to address the labour federation’s annual May Day rally in Bloemfontein on Monday.
On Thursday, more unions mounted calls to block the president from addressing the event. Last Friday, the National Health Education & Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) argued in a letter to Cosatu that allowing Zuma to speak would cause conflict in the federation and requested, instead, to be addressed by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. According to a BusinessLive report, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) also wrote to that effect. IOL News reports that the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) and the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) on Thursday joined the calls to bar Zuma from speaking. But, the pro-Zuma unions, notably the NUM, Satawu and Limusa, lashed out at those calling for Zuma not to address the rally, accusing them of factionalism.
- Read this report by Luyolo Mkentane, Noni Mokati and Tebogo Monama in full at IOL News
- Read too, Unions say no to Zuma May Day address, at BusinessLive
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page