Numsa’s United Front compared to a seven-headed snake
S’dumo Dlamini called on the tripartite alliance to defeat 'the snake'.
JOHANNESBURG - Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) President S'dumo Dlamini on Friday said the formation of National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa's (Numsa) United Front and the possibility of a breakaway federation is like a seven headed snake.
He called on the tripartite alliance to defeat it.
Dlamini told tripartite leaders, which include the South African Communist Party's (SACP) Blade Nzimande and President Jacob Zuma, that the decision to expel Zwelinzima Vavi was not made out of anger, but was thoroughly considered and taken to forge unity.
He was speaking at the unveiling of a monument to honour the late Chris Hani in Boksburg.
Dlamini said the fight for unity could not be centred on an individual.
"We've got to identify the heads one by one and kill them one at a time until the whole snake is gone."
#ChrisHani Dlamini: The decisions taken have been thoroughly informed. You cannot work to achieve unity that's all about the individual. GW
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) April 10, 2015
#ChrisHani Dlamini: This new thing is a snake with 7 heads. We’ve got to identify the heads and kill them one by one until the head is gone.
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) April 10, 2015
He's maintained that the decision taken to expel Vavi was the correct one.
"I ask you what you would do in your organisation if you have a CEO or a general secretary who would have behaved in the manner that the former general secretary of Cosatu behaved."
Dlamini has previously warned Cosatu affiliates who interacted with Vavi that they would face disciplinary action, but this has not yet happened.
#ChrisHani Dlamini: We are under attack where people have resolved that it is time for the alliance to go. GW
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) April 10, 2015
#ChrisHani Dlamini: Hani taught us democratic centralisism.
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) April 10, 2015
WATCH: Vavi opens up after dismissal from Cosatu
