The comments that he made needs careful digestion and management as they may cause further divisions within the movement and may hamper the now celebrated unity within the alliance. It becomes clear that the comments were levelled against COSATU, especially its Secretary General Zwelinzima Vavi.
Firstly Julius should have never responded in such a manner, mainly because he knows that it was not COSATU’s intention to raise the matter, but was asked by a journalist. The question of whether President Zuma should serve two terms or not was not in the media statement that was read by Vavi but was asked by a journalist who thought that COSATU’s recent conflict with government over the OSD issue meant they did not support the Zuma administration.
By responding to the question Vavi was playing in the hands of the media and by responding publicly to what Vavi said, Julius was even giving victory to the liberal media. Even the Young Communist League's public support of what COSATU said must be interpreted as accepting defeat by the media. Let’s all admit the media won this round. Surely the journalist who asked the question is laughing all the way to the bank, because he or she has received a ‘performance’ bonus from her racist newsroom masters.
Julius could have understood the agenda of the journalist here very clearly. This is not to say that Vavi was justified in responding to that particular question, but he deserves no attack mainly because he, together with Sdumo Dlamini have apologised ( something that is rare of Vavi).
Using a media rumour refering to those that supported President Zuma, Julius went further to state that the people who are saying that have no issues to discuss beyond Zuma. That’s very unfortunate. This has been the belief of the media when it comes to alliance partners, including the ANC Youth League, especially him as an individual, but now comrade Julius uses this media smear to attack another alliance partner, how unfortunate is that?
Moreover, COSATU including the YCL for that matter, are currently involved in many campaigns aimed at restoring order and uplifting the plight of the poor in this country and these range from the SABC, UNISA, OSD, BRT, Telkom, Eskom, John Hlophe and many others. So the statement was rather baseless.
On the whole my view is that after hearing the COSATU statement the ANC, ANC Youth League, YCL and SACP should have immediately contacted COSATU organising a meeting between all of them and then issuing a joint press statement on the matter. That is called Working-Together-We-Can-Do-More-to-defeat-the-liberal-media-onslaught for you.
