The South African Communist Party’s (SACP) Blade Nzimande says union leaders who want to leave labour federation Congress of South African Trade Union (Cosatu) must do so immediately.

Nzimande addressed Communist Party and Cosatu members at Folweni, south of Durban on Sunday, where tensions within the labour federation took centre stage

He says the SACP will not fold its arms while Cosatu is crippled by divisions.

Its president S’dumo Dlamini says the request by unions for a special congress to be held is not an easy solution.

National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) is leading the charge for a special congress to be held, following the suspension of Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

Vavi was suspended after details of an affair with a subordinate came to light. Some unions within Cosatu are calling for his re-instatement.

Nzimande says union leaders who have their own agendas have no place in Cosatu.

“We can see that there are some leaders in some of the unions who are considering maybe leaving us. We want to say to you as workers if they want to go let them go with their own jackets not together with you as workers of this country,” says Nzimande.

Cosatu president S’dumo Dlamini says calls for a special congress are being considered.

“The constitution of Cosatu is very funny because it gives, under the circumstances of such a request, powers to the president to apply his mind on this matter. I will apply my mind and inform the structures,” says Dlamini.

Dlamini also says that Cosatu will stand by its decision to support the ruling party in the next elections.
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