Share

CWU letter asking to bounce Zuma from May Day rally emerges

Johannesburg - A letter in which the CWU requested Cosatu to not allow President Jacob Zuma to attend its May Day celebrations has emerged on social media. 

“We... agree President Zuma should not address the National May Day rally on the 1st May 2017 and that he must be replaced,” said the Communication Worker’s Union in the letter, which adds to the call by Cosatu affiliates for the president not to be a speaker at the event.

“Our understanding of the resolution of the CEC [Central Executive Committee] regarding President Zuma is the same as Nehawu’s,” said CWU deputy general secretary Thabo Mogalane.

He said this belief was that: “…Cosatu no longer believes that the president of the African National Congress and the Republic, comrade Jacob Zuma is the right person to unite and lead the movement, the alliance and the country."

The letter, dated April 26, was addressed to Cosatu for the attention of its general secretary.

On Thursday, CWU President Clyde Mervin confirmed the letter's authenticity.

Earlier this week, Cosatu's biggest affiliate Nehawu wrote to the federation on April 21 demanding that they withdraw Zuma – who is the scheduled speaker – and replace him with Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa as the main speaker at its celebrations to be held in Bloemfontein on Monday to mark Workers Day.

General secretary of Cosatu Bheki Ntshalintshali responded to the letter by saying: "The Cosatu's NOB's [national officer bearers] understand that President Zuma as state president should step down. We do not have an understanding that as ANC president he is [not] allowed to attend Cosatu activities," Ntshalintshali wrote at the time.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
41% - 314 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
59% - 453 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.92
-0.1%
Rand - Euro
20.47
+0.0%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.36
-0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.3%
Platinum
911.60
+1.6%
Palladium
1,012.97
+1.1%
Gold
2,213.47
+0.9%
Silver
24.80
+0.6%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.9%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.9%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE