By Dominic Mahlangu

20 September 2010

ANC alliance partners Cosatu and the SA Communist Party have welcomed president Jacob Zuma’s political report at the ruling party’s national general council meeting in Durban.

Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said Zuma was firm in his address and that their complaints as the union federation were not in vain. He said Zuma read the riot act to “ill disciplined” members whose intension is to hi-jack the ANC.

“It was a well measured speech, contradictions we have seen in recent weeks did get us some improvements. The speech is unmistakenly left wing, pro working class, pro poor, through development and growth path. We have noted the criticism of the alliance and Cosatu,” Vavi said.

Zuma in his political report said the alliance was strategic and should be guarded.

“The Alliance was formed out of the struggle, and out of the shared vision as articulated in the Freedom Charter.”

We must emphasize as well that the Alliance is not based on conformity and monolithic interpretation of events. It is a strategic Alliance,” Zuma said in his report.

Communist Party deputy general secretary Jeremy Cronin said they too welcomed Zuma’s address and said it opened a door for them to influence ANC policies.

Source: http://www.timeslive.co.za/