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Viewing cable 08DURBAN37, KWAZULU-NATAL: INTERNAL ANC DYNAMICS OVERSHADOW COSATU

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08DURBAN37 2008-07-16 14:15 2011-08-30 01:44 CONFIDENTIAL Consulate Durban
VZCZCXRO8289
RR RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHDU #0037/01 1981415
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 161415Z JUL 08
FM AMCONSUL DURBAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1310
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN 0681
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DURBAN 000037 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/S RUSH MARBURG 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  7/16/2018 
TAGS: PHUM PREL ELAB PGOV SF
SUBJECT: KWAZULU-NATAL:  INTERNAL ANC DYNAMICS OVERSHADOW COSATU 
CAMPAIGN 
 
REF: A. (A) PRETORIA 1422 
     B. REF: (B) DURBAN 36 
 
DURBAN 00000037  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: CASEY SCHMIDT, POL/ECONOFF, POL, STATE. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
SUMMARY: 
 
 
 
1. (C) On 9 July, the Congress of South African Trade Unions 
(COSATU) launched a strike in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province and 
organized a march through downtown Durban to protest rising 
energy and food prices, prompting thousands of businesses to 
close and reportedly costing the provincial economy millions of 
dollars. Several union leaders and African National Congress 
(ANC) provincial officials spoke during the demonstration at 
Durban's city hall, taking advantage of the platform to talk 
about internal ANC politics and ANC President Jacob Zuma's 
corruption case. Several speakers including Deputy ANC 
Provincial Chairperson, Willies Mchunu, encouraged the 
protesters to launch a much larger strike during Zuma's trial 
next month. The event was less about tough times for workers and 
more about demonstrating that the 'new' ANC leadership is in 
charge and that change within the ANC is upon us.  End Summary. 
 
 
 
PROVINCIAL ECONOMY SUFFERS FROM COSATU STRIKE: 
 
 
 
2. (U) On 9 July, COSATU launched a "stay-away" strike in KZN 
province to protest unemployment linked to rising energy and 
food prices. This is part of an escalating program of 
'stay-aways' that are to culminate with a national strike on 
August 6.  According to local press reports, practically all of 
Durban's taxi and bus operations came to a halt and an estimated 
70 percent of employees from labor-intensive industries failed 
to show up to work, costing the provincial economy nearly $10 
million. Although we cannot corroborate the damage to the 
provincial economy, Consulate staff observed minimal vehicle 
traffic and very few businesses open in Durban's central 
business district the day of the strike. Essential services such 
as police, hospitals, and public utilities were not affected, 
according to local press reports. 
 
 
 
3. (C) As part of the strike, COSATU organized a peaceful march 
through Durban's central business district, concluding at city 
hall where several union leaders and politicians addressed the 
protesters. Consulate staff observed between 2,500-3,000 people 
participating in the demonstration. Aside from one incident of 
taxis intentionally blocking traffic on a main Durban road and 
unconfirmed reports of verbal intimidation, the local South 
African Police Service reported no cases of violence, 
intimidation, or looting of shops associated with the protest. 
 
 
 
COSATU AND ANC CALL FOR PROTEST DURING ZUMA TRIAL: 
 
 
 
4. (C) During the demonstration at city hall, union leaders and 
politicians spoke very little of the strike's objective and 
largely took advantage of the platform to talk about internal 
ANC politics and ANC President Zuma's corruption trial. COSATU 
Secretary General, Zwelinzima Vavi, blamed South Africa's energy 
crisis on the national government, particularly its 
privatization policy, and stated responsible ministers including 
President Mbeki should "dismiss themselves." Vavi also lashed 
out at South Africa's Human Rights Commission (HRC) and stated 
that he will never apologize for his recent "kill for Zuma" 
statement that echoed last month's remarks made by ANC Youth 
League President, Julius Malema (Ref A). Chairman of KZN Taxi 
Alliance, Eugene Hadebe, also added during the demonstration 
that taxi drivers and owners are prepared to "die for Zuma." 
 
 
 
5. (C) Deputy ANC Provincial Chairperson and Speaker of the KZN 
Provincial Legislature, Willies Mchunu, and South African 
Communist Party Secretary General, Blade Nzimande, also spoke 
during the demonstration in support of the COSATU strike. 
Nzimande thanked the marchers for demonstrating peacefully and 
criticized the Inkatha Freddom Party (IFP) for its violent 
protest against the municipality's street naming policy last 
month (REF B). He then told marchers that there is a new 
offensive by counter-revolutionary forces, such as the HRC and 
 
DURBAN 00000037  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
the Constitutional Court, trying to discredit Zuma and the new 
leadership. Mchunu encouraged the crowd to strike on the day 
Zuma's corruption trial in Pietermaritzburg next month (August 
4). This call was echoed by the other speakers during the 
demonstration, including Vavi, who claimed that next month's 
national one day strike (August 6) will effectively "shut down" 
South Africa. 
 
 
 
COMMENT: 
 
 
 
6.  (C) There are two political campaigns underway in South 
Africa.  The general election campaign, which has barely begun, 
and the campaign within the ANC to drive underground and/or 
bring in line those  who do not support ANC President Jacob 
Zuma.  The latter is part of a unity drive on the part of the 
ANC as it readies itself for the general election next 
March/April.  Most public events by the ANC or alliance 
partners, like the COSATU 'stay-away campaign,' are colored by 
the ongoing battle between the ANC in government (pro-Mbeki) and 
the ANC that rules the party itself (pro-Zuma).  COSATU, SACP 
and ANC party leaders (all pro-Zuma) take advantage of these 
opportunities to demonstrate that they are in charge and that 
change is coming.  The change from the 'old' ANC to the "new" is 
already underway in a number of provinces.  Several provincial 
ANC organizations have held their post-Polokwane conferences and 
have voted in large slates of pro-Zuma leaders.  It has already 
happened (septel) in KZN where the pro-Mbeki ANC Chairperson 
Sb'u Ndebele has been replaced by Zuma confidante Zweli Mkhize. 
Look for more of the same across the country in advance of the 
general elections following which, the leadership of the ANC and 
the leadership of government will once again be one and the same. 
YOUNG