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Johannesburg - Cosatu has never been as weak and paralysed as it is today, its general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said on Thursday.
"I am extremely exhausted and unable to sleep because of the palace politics and boardroom shenanigans that have sidelined the interests of the general membership," he said at the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA's (Denosa) national congress in Boksburg, on the East Rand.
"The more this becomes an issue, the more we become irrelevant to a growing number of workers."
Vavi said time was running out for the Congress of SA Trade Unions to remain relevant. If the trade union federation did not save itself, workers would start leaving.
Cosatu has been dogged by infighting and disunity since Vavi was suspended last year for having an affair with a junior employee.
The National Union of Metalworkers of SA, a Cosatu affiliate and Vavi supporter, had instituted court proceedings to get him reinstated. He returned to work in August.
Numsa and eight other affiliates, including Denosa, have been calling for Cosatu to hold a special national congress to elect new leaders. This request had been denied by Cosatu's national office bearers.
The trade union is divided between support for Vavi and president Sidumo Dlamini.
When Vavi arrived at Denosa's congress on Thursday, excited delegates cheered and chanted his name.
"A communist never sold out workers. Even Vavi, he never sold out the workers," they sang in isiZulu.
Just before his address, Vavi asked delegates to stand before he led them in song.
"There is no problem when Cosatu is there. Even in hardship, we will hold on until we reach our destiny," delegates sang.
Vavi praised Denosa for being one of the unions calling for the special congress.
"I do understand your call for a special congress... so we can move beyond this paralysis," he told cheering delegates.
"For this we do not apologise. This paralysis is not in the best interests of the workers."
He said Denosa had built a powerful and influential union that had not been corrupted or become a stepping stone for political ambition.
"Don't allow your union to be divided... for the short-term political gains of anyone," Vavi said.
