The Central Executive Committee of the Congress of South African Trade Unions held a special meeting on 22 September 2008, attended by the National Office Bearers, and representatives of all COSATU's 22 affiliates and provinces.
The CEC assessed the implications of Judge Chris Nicholson's historic judgement in the Pietermaritzburg High Court and the decision of the ANC NEC to recall President Thabo Mbeki.
The CEC feel vindicated by Judge Nicholson's judgement and agrees with the decision taken by the NEC of the ANC. It expressed its satisfaction with the manner in which the ANC managed the whole saga, but expressed anger at the fact that some leaders leaked information to their friends in the media in a manner that undermines the whole purpose of diligently managing a rather sensitive political matter. The CEC also expressed gratitude at the dignified manner in which President Mbeki dealt with the matter.
The CEC called on the ANC leadership to work with the outgoing President so that he may be deployed elsewhere, in line with his passion for African development.
COSATU's leadership, as part of its ongoing programme to engage with the members, will explain the judgement to them, and in addition we shall join all the meetings the ANC NEC is going to be addressing.
COSATU is keen that the country has closure on these negative politics that have taken centre stage. We are concerned that this matter, and all the other related matters, has dominated the public discourse at the expense of the real issues affecting the majority. We believe that the country must now close this chapter and focus on the real debates we should be having on addressing unemployment, poverty and growing inequalities.
The Alliance is currently debating a paper called ‘Seizing the moment: consolidating and unifying the democratic forces around a progressive platform', which was to have been debated by the Alliance NOBs on 24-25 September 2008, but this meeting is being postponed, due to the need to manage the process arising from the resignation of the President.
Statement issued by the COSATU Central Executive Committee September 22 2008
