Dec 13, 2012 | Sapa
Union leader's stand against corruption raises ire
Deputy Minister of Higher Education Mduduzi Manana has labelled Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi a “problem child”, according to a report on Thursday.
Manana accused Vavi of wanting to use the platform of the National Anti-Corruption Forum to start a new party, the New Age newspaper reported.
“The alliance partners may remain critical of each other but they must not be counter-revolutionary. Vavi’s behaviour and actions lead to the conclusion that he has intentions to establish his own party using an anti-corruption platform as a bandwagon,” Manana said.
Vavi was this week appointed chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Forum.
Manana appealed to the African National Congress to “express itself” against Vavi’s “counter-revolutionary behaviour” at its upcoming elective conference in Mangaung.
Congress of SA Trade Unions spokesman Patrick Craven denied Manana’s statements.
Craven told the New Age: “There is not a shred of truth in any of this and if the deputy minister really believes what he is saying, it reflects a disturbing state of paranoia”.
WHO IS MDUDUZI MANANA?
In June, when President Jacob Zuma's reshuffled his Cabinet, he gave a nod to the ANC Youth League in the form of the appointment of the league's national executive committee member and parliamentarian Mduduzi Manana as deputy minister of Higher Education and Training.
Manana gained fame after he accused suspended ANCYL secretary Sindiso Magaqa of falsely announcing that the league's NEC had earlier this year resolved to support expelled president Julius Malema. His comments were seen to be in favour of Zuma in as far as the Malema camp was concerned.
