‘Sister’ Sdumo Dlamini has ‘Mantashed’, says Mpofu

National chairperson of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Dali Mpofu has taken a swipe at Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini.

This after Dlamini attended President Jacob Zuma’s birthday where he contradicted Cosatu’s call on the president to step down.

Speaking in Kliptown, Soweto, during celebrations for Zuma’s 75th birthday on Wednesday evening, Dlamini said workers affiliated to Cosatu wished him the best and were firmly behind his leadership.

“We wish you that in these hard‚ trying times‚ as a father‚ a husband and leader‚ remain strong‚” he said, adding that “as you are my leader‚ and we tackle these issues‚ I need you to be strong”.

This was in clear contradiction to the union’s previous call for the president to resign following his Cabinet reshuffle that saw South Africa being downgraded to junk status by two different international rating agencies.

Last week, Cosatu said it didn’t believe Zuma was the right person to lead any more.

“Cosatu no longer believes that the president is the right person to unite and lead the movement, the alliance and the country.

“We think that, after all his undeniable contribution to both the movement and government, the time has arrived for him to step down and allow the country to be led forward by a new collective at government level,” said Cosatu’s general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali at the time.

Mpofu says Dlamini – a qualified nurse who became a trade unionist –  hence the label “Sister”, has “Mantashed”, meaning he has emulated ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, who is known for being inconsistent in his political stances.

Mantashe at first criticised Zuma for the reshuffle, and was then firmly behind the president again a few days later.

As to be expected Sister Sdumo has mantashed….on a COSATU CEC decision nogal!

— Dali Mpofu (@AdvDali_Mpofu) April 12, 2017