Johannesburg — THE Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) central committee has said the "centre" in the Presidency is not holding and blamed this on the inept coterie of people appointed to manage President Jacob Zuma at the Union Buildings.

The inefficiency of his office has led Zuma into a number of public relations nightmares, including lately his failure to declare his financial interests.

Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini said in an interview on Monday that Zuma should "fire" his political advisers for being a "disaster" and axe his communications team for failing to guide him through a series of PR nightmares that have plunged his Presidency into crisis a mere 10 months since taking office.

The Presidency has been in the spotlight following a series of damaging and politically explosive events, including news of Zuma's love child, his failure to timeously declare his assets, and why his state of the nation address failed to live up to expectations .

Cosatu and the African National Congress (ANC) are due at a bilateral meeting to thrash out differences over policy and issues relating to governance that have spilled into the public as tripartite alliance leaders trade insults with each other.

"It is clear from how they have handled a series of recent events, including the drafting of the state of the nation address, that the people in there simply do not gel," Dlamini said. "Lately, they have been a disaster. How do they pick on the wrong answers for most things? In fact the communications people give the impression they have something to hide."

It was clear from Zuma's recent difficulties that his advisers were "not serving his interests" and that "people close to him" could be behind damaging information that was leaked about his private life.

Cosatu will also give more details on the "plot" to remove Zuma from office, which it says emanates from within the ANC. Dlamini said it would "engage" the ANC leadership on the " details" of the allegation.

"The president relies on these people (advisers) to manage his affairs and his office. From where we are sitting, it's clear they are not doing so. If I were the president I would fire all my advisers, my communications people and my speech writers. It's clear that there is a massive problem."

The "wrong combination" of people had been appointed and Zuma was paying the price, Dlamini said.

Former safety and security minister Charles Nqakula and former trade and industry minister Mandisi Mpahlwa , who served under Thabo Mbeki 's presidency, are Zuma's political advisers. Vusi Mavimbela resigned from Mvelaphanda Holdings and serves as Zuma's director-general. Collins Chabane, the minister in the Presidency responsible for monitoring and evaluation, is responsible for the overall administration. Zuma also has a bevy of communications staff, among them Vusi Mona, Vincent Magwenya and Steyn Speed.

The Presidency was recently rocked by reports that chief operating officer Jessie Duarte had written to ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe complaining bitterly about the way the Presidency was run.