JOHANNESBURG – Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi on Tuesday said the federation will not yet say who it wants to run for the ANC’s presidency.

His comments come ahead of the ruling party’s elective conference in Mangaung, scheduled for later this year.

Speaking at Cosatu’s congress in Midrand, Vavi admitted his organisation made mistakes at the 2007 elective conference in Polokwane.

Vavi spoke to delegates for nearly three hours.

He lamented the current capitalist system, and discussed the social distance between unions, party members and citizens, calling for radical change.

The secretary general said Cosatu made bad mistakes at the Polokwane conference.

“Sometimes we hug stinking hyenas, as we did with some [leaders chosen] in 2007. Let us be honest about that, comrades.”

Furthermore, Vavi said Cosatu should not be caught in the succession debate.

“It is premature to engage in succession debates. We will encourage our members to assess the leadership of the alliance formation at the right time.”

The congress will debate its support for President Jacob Zuma's bid for a second term.

Cosatu’s congress will end on Thursday.