BusinessLive reports that Cosatu said on Wednesday that the cancellation of speeches at the union federation’s May Day rally on Monday in the Free State reflected the anger of workers towards the ANC-led government and factionalism within the alliance.  

The official programme came to an abrupt halt after President Jacob Zuma and Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini were heckled and booed.  Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said that what happened on Monday was regrettable and unacceptable, but reflected that workers had "reached a dead end".  "[They] are angry with the factionalised state of the ANC and the dearth of leadership in the movement…  The workers are also tired of the ANC and its government’s failure to deal honestly and decisively with issues like e-tolls, labour brokers, unemployment and retrenchments," said Pamla.  

Cosatu, whose senior officials are split on support for Zuma, had earlier claimed that a "rented crowd" had been sent to Bloemfontein with the purpose of disrupting the event.  These issues will be raised during a special Cosatu central executive committee meeting.

• Read this report by Genevieve Quintal and Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive
• See too, Cosatu to convene special meeting to deal with Zuma booing, at News24

Read Cosatu’s post-May Day statement at Cosatu Today

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page