The National Planning Commission is a necessary means of implementing economic policy, President Jacob Zuma told delegates at the 10th annual Cosatu congress in Midrand on Monday.

“It is done to align our work so we can deliver,” he said.

Zuma also downplayed disagreements between Cosatu and the government over striking SA National Defence Force
soldiers. Zuma said that the ANC recognised that it was the role of military unions to make demands of employers. “At the end of the day, you can’t have unions that don’t make demands for its workers,” he said.

“We understand that the ANC is a broad church.”

Cosatu president Sidumo Dlamini told the congress an attempt to take away the rights of workers in the military had to be fought with vigour. “Do not take that right… create conditions to make protests unnecessary,” he said.

Another solution needed to be sought to resolve the impasse between the government and soldiers over salary increases and working conditions. “Let’s sit down and find proper solutions without taking away their right to belong to a union,” he said.

Zuma previously condemned the violent protest by soldiers at the Union Buildings last month as “despicable in the extreme”.

Defence & military veterans minister Lindiwe Sisulu issued letters of dismissal to the 1 300 soldiers who took part in the illegal protest over salaries. Responding to an IFP question in parliament, she said it had perhaps been a mistake to allow soldiers to unionise.

However, the dismissals were put on hold by a ruling made by the high court in Pretoria on an application brought by the SA National Defence Union. — Sapa