Labour unions must disengage from business investments, ANC NEC member and Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi said, warning that failure to do this will consume the lifeline of the alliance.

He said this saw union leaders fighting for business opportunities and tenders.

“What is also dividing Cosatu is money, like it is happening in our branches; union investments have been the source of irritation and divisions,” said Nxesi during his address at the Walter Sisulu Memorial Lecture in Polokwane on Monday night.

“Look at this tender of the building of Cosatu... look at what is happening to the various unions. It is the divisions around union investment companies,” he said.

Cosatu accused its expelled general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi of selling Cosatu's old building for R10-million less than its actual value, and of awarding a tender to a company that employed his stepdaughter.

“Union leaders are fighting over business... leaders must step away from those tenders.

"If you hold political office, you have no business being in business, especially when there is conflict of interest,” he said.

Personality cult

Nxesi said Cosatu also suffers from a personality cult syndrome, saying some leaders believe that they are the organisation.

“If truth be told, the ordinary masses are very loyal, the ordinary masses are very innocent. The problem is us leaders who are fuelling division,” Nxesi said.

He said some leaders no longer see their branches as a path to discuss community struggles and organisational mandates. Instead, they rather use them as a platform to enrich themselves.

“Some people think that the organisation is themselves, not the ANC. No decision can be taken without them as individuals; [it is a] problem of personality cult.

"That is the problem that is facing Cosatu, it is a personality cult, where some leaders as individuals they think that they are above [the federation]," he added.

Love of money

He also referred to the Bible, arguing that the love of money is the source of evil.

“We must refer to it because we were raised through Christian statutes...

"All that it does is damage the public profile and the image of the organisation due to internal strifes. The ANC is crippled because of individuals, the image of the movement is crippled.”

He also cited a lack of discipline as another major factor tearing the ANC and its alliance apart.

Nxesi said leaders should learn that it is simple to destroy and very difficult to rebuild.

News24.com