Allegations against SACP leader - Cosatu statement 03-08-07 |
Allegations against SACP leaders - COSATU statement
The National Office Bearers of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, at their normal weekly meeting today, Monday 6 August, considered media reports of allegations against leaders of the SA Communist Party.
The COSATU President, Willie Madisha, gave his apologies for non-attendance, for reasons unconnected with the media reports. His absence put the meeting at a disadvantage but nevertheless the NOBs took the view that this is purely a matter for the SACP. The questions around the alleged donation and its handover were matters for the Party to deal with.
This has absolutely nothing to do with COSATU as no individual acted on behalf of the Federation. If it is true that the COSATU President was somehow involved, he would have been acting in his capacity as a member of the SACP Central Committee and not on behalf of COSATU.
COSATU will not get involved but hopes that the SACP will get to the bottom of the allegations and that we will receive a full briefing from them.
Having said that we are however disturbed to note that these allegations bear the hallmarks of a campaign similar to the smear campaign targeting the COSATU General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, before the 2006 COSATU National Congress, when faceless individuals planted a story in the media alleging that he had used the COSATU credit card to hire luxury cars for an alleged girlfriend, as well taking the said alleged girl friend to the FIFA World Cup in Germany. Not a scrap of evidence was ever produced for these allegations, yet some media houses continue to refer to these allegations in a manner that continues to tarnish his image.
In the current political environment such allegations are not unexpected and they will be levelled against others in the future. They are all motivated by an attempt to discredit individuals and foment divisions. But they will not succeed. The NOBs confirmed their complete confidence in the SACP and Federation's leadership.
Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)
Congress of South African Trade Unions
1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets
Braamfontein, 2017
P.O.Box 1019
Johannesburg, 2000
SOUTH AFRICA
Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24
Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940/ 086 603 9667
Cell: 0828217456
E-Mail: patr...@cosatu.org.za