The African National Congress (ANC) notes with concern the utterances by the Cosatu's General Secretary about our 53rd conference currently underway in Mangaung.

In the organizational report of this conference we said, Cosatu's public posture at times causes problems for the ANC. Now, because Cde Zwelinzima Vavi was not in the conference when the organizational report was delivered, he repeats the same mistake.

If he doubts the positive impact of this conference, he must monitor the international financial markets.

The ANC delegates to this conference exercised their democratic right and that right can't be dwarfed by Cosatu as fighting for positions.

We think it is premature of Cosatu to make such remarks about ANC leadership at the time when we are electing leaders to the NEC.

Some of the issues Cde Vavi raised should have been reserved for Alliance engagements and not dangled to the media.

President Jacob Zuma, shortly after being elected, made a passionate plea to Delegates to treat each other as Comrades.

Cde Vavi must remember that, the contestation for leadership positions is part of democratic culture for the ANC.