COSATU statement on affiliates' press conference

The Congress of South African Trade Unions has noted and condemned the press conference held yesterday by nine of its affiliated unions. While we welcome and encourage debate within the federation on the issues raised by the affiliates in the press conference, we are disappointed that they did not observe internal processes but went outside the structures on COSATU matters. For that reason COSATU will not respond in detail on the issues, but wishes to reassure all its affiliates that:

There is a process agreed to by the Central Executive Committee (CEC) on preparations for the Special National Congress (SNC) which involves these nine unions. All affiliates have acknowledged receipt of the letters about this;

The NOBs are working on the dates for the next special CEC that will receive the report of the meeting of general secretaries and presidents on the work to prepare for the SNC, which will soon be announced, following the constitution;

The General Secretary (GS) was served with charges following a grievance procedure, which involved him and the staff member concerned, and therefore it had nothing to do with him declining nomination to the ANC list and that this process is a product of the investigation;

The NOBs never leaked the charges against the GS and up to now this has never been disputed. The federation condemned the leaks of the charges and had nothing to gain from doing so. We have stated that the burden of proof lies with the one making the allegations;

It is incorrect that the forensic investigation into the sale and purchase of the buildings has been abandoned. It is still in progress and there is nothing like a fishing expedition here;

COSATU as a whole took part in the ANC manifesto processes. It held its own workshop and later attended the lekgotla that identified issues which COSATU did not agree with and those that we did agree with. We all agreed on what our posture towards the manifesto would be, so it cannot be correct that there was no engagement within the federation on the manifesto. This will be further discussed at the CEC;

We call for calm and unity in COSATU and urge members to defend the federation from attacks aimed at destroying it.

Statement issued by COSATU, January 30 2014

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