Mantashe walks out of COSATU National Congress
A Shocking Alliance Feud Erupts as High-Ranking Official Refuses to Take the Stage at Massive National Congress
Tensions inside South Africa’s largest labor federation exploded into an unprecedented public feud as the landmark 15th National Congress faced yet another dramatic crisis on its opening day.
The high-stakes national congress reconvened following a turbulent collapse in September, when delegates sharply deadlocked over contested leadership credentials and internal alliance hierarchies.
These severe ideological fractures come at a critical political juncture, with the African National Congress and the South African Communist Party preparing to face off against each other in upcoming local government elections.
Historically, member organizations within the tripartite pack deploy senior political representatives to deliver messages of solidarity and support during national congresses.
However, a fierce confrontation erupted when African National Congress national chairperson Gwede Mantashe refused to step up to the podium to deliver his scheduled speech.
Organizers directed Gwede Mantashe to address the delegation early in the program, prompting an immediate and firm refusal from the senior political leader.
Gwede Mantashe insisted that as the leader of the alliance, the African National Congress always speaks last during official proceedings, flatly refusing to alter protocol for the gathering.
Outraged delegates across the congress floor viewed the dramatic refusal by Gwede Mantashe as a devastating lost moment for unity within the alliance.
Taking to the floor, an incensed delegate directly addressed the leadership and targeted Gwede Mantashe over his disruptive refusal.
“What you should have done, comrade Gwede or whoever has been sent to come and speak here was to respect our program director or the chairperson of the session to go there at the stage and once you are there you teach us this behavior”, declared the angry delegate.
The delegate delivered a harsh warning regarding the political conduct displayed by Gwede Mantashe in front of the assembled labor movement.
“It is unbecoming and he is consistent”, stated the delegate, adding, “We will remember president this moment”.
Continuing the scathing public rebuke, the delegate condemned the party’s attitude toward the labor federation.
“We will remember this moment and he must continue with these own goals”, asserted the delegate.
“We will always remember the arrogance of the African National Congress that it cannot be tolerated in any form or shape”, shouted the delegate, before declaring, “We proceed with this Congress”.
Directly addressing the absent leadership, the delegate added, “Ah you lost it, you are moving forward”.
Outraged delegates went even further, calling on the African National Congress to officially sanction Gwede Mantashe for his public defiance and arrogance.
A delegate voiced absolute frustration over the manipulation of political traditions.
“The message is you don’t distort the lines for convenience”, stated the delegate.
“You never distort the alliance for convenience, you do the right thing whether it is painful or not, you don’t change it as you like”, added the delegate.
Unrelenting and entirely unapologetic, Gwede Mantashe weighed in on the exploding controversy, making it explicitly clear that he will not compromise foundational principles for convenience.
“And one of the thing that I will never do is to give up a principle for convenience, I don’t do that as a person”, declared Gwede Mantashe.
Defending his total refusal to take the stage ahead of the South African Communist Party, Gwede Mantashe pushed back against claims made by congress organizers.
“Never spoke before the party, we always speak last, that is tradition”, insisted Gwede Mantashe.
“Anybody who say we ever spoke first is telling lies conveniently”, stated Gwede Mantashe, asserting, “There is no truth in that”.
Gwede Mantashe reiterated the firm stance of the African National Congress regarding alliance leadership dynamics.
“We always speak last because that is the order of the alliance”, stated Gwede Mantashe.
Refusing to back down, Gwede Mantashe declared, “Big brother syndrome, we are the leader of the alliance until that is changed”.
“If it is not changed, we are the leader of the alliance”, asserted Gwede Mantashe.
Following the explosive floor confrontation, delegates declared that the African National Congress officially lost its designated speaking spot on the formal program.
As a direct consequence of the boycott by Gwede Mantashe, African National Congress representatives will only be permitted to participate as floor delegates in general policy deliberations.
The national congress moves forward into Tuesday with scheduled messages from international guest speakers alongside the formal presentation of the federation’s financial report.
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