21 September 2009

Johannesburg — IN A BID to smooth over relations with its increasingly impatient alliance partners, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) yesterday called for an urgent meeting and a fresh alliance summit.

"It is important not to take the relationship for granted," ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said at a media briefing yesterday.

Long lapses between alliance meetings had contributed to an atmosphere of "unnecessary misunderstandings and negative perceptions", Mantashe said, a day after the party's national executive committee meeting in Johannesburg.

The proposal, on the eve of ANC ally the Congress of South African Trade Unions' (Cosatu's) national congress, comes as the ANC is desperately trying to quash debate about possible challenges to the top six position holders.

In recent weeks ANC leaders have been forced to declare their support for President Jacob Zuma . Cosatu and the South African Communist Party have also entered the fray, supporting the leadership.

"It had to happen on the eve of conference because all of Cosatu's documents have been in the press and the ANC would have realised that this is not just (Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima) Vavi's rants, but actually well-thought-out positions in the alliance, which make it more dramatic," said Adam Habib, deputy vice-chancellor at the University of Johannesburg.

The ANC and Cosatu have been at loggerheads over strikes by construction and municipal workers, the unionisation of members of the armed forces, the controversy over ministers who have bought expensive new cars, and the role of the National Planning Commission.

"All suggest tensions in the alliance ... but the alliance is much stronger today than it ever was under (former president Thabo) Mbeki and I think (the tensions) can still be managed," Habib said.

Differences between the ruling party and Cosatu are still likely to bubble to the surface during the congress, which begins today.

One issue on which the two will lock horns is the party's push to de- unionise the South African National Defence Force in the wake of last month's protests by soldiers at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

Other issues up for discussion are SA's response to the economic downturn, corruption, the proposed national health insurance scheme and the planning commission.

Mantashe said that the ANC's top brass had ordered all party structures to stop the succession debate.

"The ANC and its allies must not engage in the succession debate now. It is not appropriate. There is no crisis," Mantashe said.

Members who contravened the decision would be taken to task, he said. "You cannot go against the grain of a decision of the party. Loyalty and organisational discipline are part and parcel of being in the ANC," Mantashe said.

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