IOL News reports that pressure from union affiliates and attempts to unseat him have forced Cosatu president S'dumo Dlamini to come out and say he wants President Jacob Zuma to step down.
Dlamini, a known Zuma ally, apologised for the third time for attending the president's 75th birthday bash in Soweto and warned the battle to remove the president was a “do or die” affair. Dlamini came under fire for attending the party, with Cosatu’s biggest union, the National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) clandestinely pushing for his removal. On Thursday, when closing the Cosatu central committee (CC) meeting, Dlamini said he was joining efforts to oust Zuma. He stated that the campaign against the president was a battle that “is bound to have casualties”, adding his family had already been threatened after a decapitated and disembowelled cat was found outside their home in KwaZulu-Natal, following Cosatu’s decision in November for Zuma to step down. “This is a battle and in any battle there are bound to be casualties in whatever form and you must be prepared that you will live or die,” Dlamini warned. Cosatu second deputy president Zingiswa Losi, another Zuma ally, also said Zuma had to go.
- Read this report by Luyolo Mkentane in full at Cape Times
- Read too, Cosatu president warns of 'casualties' as they battle Zuma, at News24
- And also, Dlamini apologises again for attending Zuma bash, at IOL News
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page