Do you remember the Godfather book by Mario Puzo, which was masterfully turned into an iconic film by the same name by Francis Fred Coppolla? If not, shame on you! This is one of the greatest films ever made a film that defined the Mafia Genre of film. Sorry I’m getting distracted, just watch the film if you have not. There is a scene in this film in which Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, who had recently become Godfather tells his brother-in-law, Carlo, that he is settling family business. He subsequently goes on to have Carlo killed. Carlo was killed because he sold out the family. Unbeknown to Carlo, Michael knew of his betrayal and just waited for an opportune moment to avenge Carlo’s betrayal. On the same day Carlo was killed, the other 4 heads or Dons of the 4 largest mafia families in New York were killed. This paved the way for Michael to settle old grudges.
You must be wondering what this has to do with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)? Well, like a gritty, dark and violent mafia film, COSATU is becoming a must see mafia drama series. Last week then COSATU president, Willie Madisha was fired for being involved in a scandal in which R500 000 disappeared from COSATU coffers or to be more precise that money did not reach COSATU coffers as it was donated directly to Madisha. On the surface this may seem to be a simple case of your average South African brand of corruption finding its way to COSATU. However, to the trained eye of the conspiracy theorist this looks like the Zuma for National President Camp in COSATU was settling family business. Willie Madisha was a supporter for Thabo Mbeki for the ANC presidency and that went against most of the COSATU leadership’s support for Jacob Zuma. During the ANC National Congress in Polokwane, Zuma won and Mbeki lost the ANC presidency. It’s been about 3 months after Polokwane and the Zuma for National President Camp is settling family business or cleaning house. All those that went against them are now paying the price. Businessmen of the BEE variety are losing lucrative opportunities for BEE deals. For instance, Vodacom has postponed their mega BEE deal as they had initially supported a Mbeki camp consortium but now they are looking for those associated with the Zuma camp. People like Bheki Khumalo and Saki Macozuma are not that popular anymore. Not Zuma enough.
Settling COSATU business is not exclusive to business, in the halls of government people are worried that their allegiance to President Thabo Mbeki will hurt them next year if Zuma is elected National President. They should be worried, I’m sure many in the Zuma camp are hoping for new jobs in government with new German built cars, fancy upmarket houses and BEE contracts. They are hoping for trips around the world to wine and dine with Western, Eastern and South American leaders. There is not enough room in government for both the Mbeki and Zuma camp.
Settling COSATU business has begun with a big bang and I think it will continue as we get closer to next year’s elections. Zuma and co. are cleaning up and building up what they will need to effectively rule South Africa for at least 8 years. This process maybe a political blood bath. Well that is how settling family business goes, blood whether real or political is a necessary ingredient.
