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South Africa: Largest labor union, NUMSA looking to break way from ANC – may form political party
A NUMSA political force would be likely to appeal to the disaffected youth also being courted by arch anti Zuma baiter Julius Malema, an expelled ANC youth leader who launched the radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters party earlier this year.
Although there is no chance of the ANC losing its majority next year – it won nearly 66 percent of the vote in 2009 – both entities would erode its support on the left, and increase the chances of a sub-60 percent result, an outcome that would heap pressure on the Zuma administration.
As with Malema, NUMSA General Secretary Irvin Jim, a firebrand advocate of large-scale nationalization, helped Zuma become ANC leader in 2007 but is furious that the unions have since been relegated to an alliance “labor desk” and excluded from big decisions.
In a sign of its concern, the ANC has sent in its top enforcer, Secretary General Gwede Mantashe, to restore order although in reality it may be more like damage limitation and control to ensure the defectors are as few as possible, analysts say.
It is only a matter of time before a split is formalized, but the ANC is not just going to roll over.”
