SACP, Cosatu defy president

US-SA tensions rise over former ambassador Rasool's expulsion

- LOYISO SIDIMBA

TRADE union federation Cosatu and the SA Communist Party (SACP) are not backing down from a rally today to welcome home now-former South African ambassador to the US Ebrahim Rasool after his expulsion.

This is despite President Cyril Ramaphosa urging people to refrain from partaking or engaging in action that may seem inflammatory and worsen the already volatile diplomatic relationship with the US.

The ANC in the Western Cape has bowed to pressure and indicated that it will adhere to Ramaphosa's call, according to the party's Khaled Sayed.

However, Sayed said it was incorrect to say the ANC had bowed to pressure.

"We are still attending and supporting the homecoming reception which is organised by our own regional structure," he explained.

Melvin de Bruyn, Western Cape provincial secretary of Cosatu, who initially made an announcement calling for Rasool's welcoming rally at the Cape Town International Airport, responded with questions on what Ramaphosa meant by toning down the welcoming celebrations when asked if the event was going ahead despite the president's plea.

SACP Western Cape provincial secretary Benson Nggentsu said: "We are joining the home welcome programme of Comrade Rasool to assert our national sovereignty because we deployed Rasool to the US to advance and deepen our diplomatic relations with the US with the context of our shared National Democratic Revolution, not as a puppet of the populist right-wing-authoritarian imperialists. This is the bottom line."

The Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco) this week indicated that it had started its internal processes to identify and recommend Rasool's replacement to Ramaphosa, who will make the final decision. Ramaphosa's office also stated that his administration was engaging with the City of Johannesburg regarding the renaming of the Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive after the Palestinian freedom fighter.