‘Too young to understand alliance traditions’: Mantashe hits back at Malatji over Cosatu walkout
Gwede Mantashe has defended his decision to leave the Cosatu congress after a dispute over the speaking order, hitting back at ANC Youth League president Collen Malatji and insisting the ANC remains the leader of the tripartite alliance.
ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe has defended his decision to skip the Cosatu congress, rebuking Youth League president Collen Malatji for criticizing the alliance's traditions. Mantashe argued that he was entitled to protect the ANC's dignity and position within the tripartite alliance and that changing the speaking order was not a matter to be taken lightly.
Malatji, however, described the incident as irresponsible and called for older leaders to step aside for younger members. He questioned why Mantashe, at the time a delegate in 1985, was too young to comprehend the alliance's customs. Mantashe maintained that the ANC remains the leader of the alliance and that any changes to the speaking order would be seen as questioning the ANC's leadership.
Cosatu president Mike Shingange vowed to raise the matter at future alliance meetings and warned that it could foster tensions within the partnership.
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