Having noted media reports, based on anonymous sources from the ANC Youth League, about compiling lists of "preferred leaders" of the African National Congress, the Congress of South African Trade Unions restates its call on structures of the alliance not to engage in discussions about the leadership elections of the ANC or its allies until the right time, and to do so only through the proper channels, not the media (see Sunday Independent report).

Accordingly COSATU strongly condemns the mischievous and irresponsible, anonymous sources who have chosen to use the media to run a divisive succession debate. Such premature debates will divert us from the political priority, which is to ensure that we the whole movement focus on the implementation all the 2007 Polokwane resolutions and the 2009 election manifesto. COSATU calls on all alliance cadres to support the leadership collective elected in Polokwane and ensure that it leads the whole country in ensuring that the Polokwane resolutions and manifesto commitments are taken forward successfully.

We also reiterate the CEC statement of August 2010 that there will be no succession debate in the federation itself until the right time. Further we wish to state categorically that the General Secretary has long accepted the criticism of the CEC that it was unwise for him to announce that he will not seek re-election in the next congress of COSATU in 2012. The General Secretary will stand for re-election in the next congress if this is the wish of COSATU members.

In the light of the NUMSA statement, followed by NUM statements, COSATU calls upon its affiliates to abide by these decisions and to deal with the issues through the proper structures, rather than to engage publicly in the media.

Statement issued by COSATU, August 7 2011

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