Cosatu to meet and discuss possibility of Cyril losing presidency bid – report

The highest decision-making body of the ANC’s tripartite alliance partner, Cosatu, is reportedly preparing to hold a three-day meeting next week to chart the way forward should Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s bid to succeed President Jacob Zuma as ANC leader in December fail.

Cosatu insiders on Monday told Business Day on condition of anonymity that the federation’s central executive committee (CEC) was likely to come up with a strategy to be followed, which would take into consideration the SA Communist Party’s (SACP) decision in July to contest elections independently of the ANC.

The CEC meeting will be the first since the ANC’s national policy conference at the end of June, the SACP’s national congress last month, as well as a motion of no confidence in Zuma earlier this month in the National Assembly.

“These are issues we will have to grapple with. Cosatu cannot be caught off-guard should things fail to go our way in December‚” a union leader reportedly said.

According to the sources, the CEC would possibly look into Cosatu holding a special national congress early next year to discuss the outcome of the ANC’s conference and decide on the way forward.

The governing party’s presidential race has been dominated by frontrunners Ramaphosa and former AU chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who has received Zuma’s backing for the top post.

However, as the race heats up, several candidates have officially thrown their hats in the ring as well, such as Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, former ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa and Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe.

Cosatu’s CEC will meet from Monday to Wednesday next week.

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