COSATU condemns Sowetan headline "Zuma blasted by Vavi"

The Congress of South African Trade Unions condemns a front page headline - "Zuma blasted by Vavi" - in the Sowetan on 6 April 2011, which implies that COSATU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi launched an attack on Comrade Jacob Zuma in his address to the NUMSA National Bargaining Conference yesterday, 5 April 2011.  We consider the headline as inaccurate and mischievous.

Zwelinzima Vavi never made any reference to the President of the ANC and the Republic, Comrade Jacob Zuma. He pointed out at the strides made by the ANC government as well as some of the challenges that remain such as corruption, income inequalities, poverty and unemployment. Even the Sowetan's own report of the speech, by Kingdom Mabuza, on Page 4, to which the headline refers, makes no mention of any reference to the President by the General Secretary.

The headline is misleading, sensationalist and aimed at nothing but the creation of picture of a fractured Alliance towards the Local Government Elections.

COSATU demands that the Sowetan publish a retraction and apology for their distortion and misrepresentation.

Statement issued by Phindile Kunene COSATU Shopsteward Editor, April 6 2011

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