Lead by example and vacate directorships, Vavi tells Cyril

Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has appealed to newly elected ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa to lead by example and vacate his positions in various companies by putting his business interests into a trust while he served in the ANC leadership.

He appealed to Ramaphosa to lead by example and vacate his positions in various companies by putting his business interests into a trust while he served in the ANC.

Vavi said the ANC should send a clear message that those in executive positions should not hold any directorships in business.

He said the federation would rely on Ramaphosa’s influence to advance the campaign against labour brokers.

“The leadership must not find itself in a conflict of interest. When you are in government you must be able to live by the means provided for in public office. Cyril is a capitalist who played a major role in the mining sector but we should not allow government people to do business with the state,” said Vavi.

Meanwhile President Jacob Zuma has called for unity shortly after he was re-elected party president.

Donning the robe of a conciliatory statesman, Zuma called on ANC members not to alienate each other on the basis of who they backed for leadership at the Mangaung conference.

Zuma made an impromptu speech and said the party should continue its democratic tradition of allowing members to choose who they want for leadership.

Moments after it was announced that Zuma had trounced Motlanthe in the battle for the presidency, some delegates were singing, “Do you see the stick” and making gestures that the campaign for leadership change had collapsed.

“We have something to contribute to this democracy. Whatever we do is in the interest of our organisation, our country and its people,” he said.

Zuma said members had to look at how “we treat one another”, and added that no one “must feel they were not part of the decision” to elect the new leadership.

“If the people of this country must learn something from this oldest organisation, the ANC, (is that) we need to demonstrate that in practice. We all agree that for the members of the ANC to have preferences, it is their democratic right.”

He said he didn’t want a situation where after elections those who had exercised their democratic right to feel as though they were outsiders.

Zuma said the new leadership should lead a united organisation. There is speculation that the party might not be able to heal the rift created by the contest, and that divisions might continue to manifest beyond the conference.

“Therefore let us handle another as comrades. That is the message I wanted to give all of you,” he said before singing, We’ll follow (Albert) Luthuli.

- Sabelo Ndlangisa and Xolani Mbanjwa