Johannesburg: Cosatu's affiliates have rebelled against the labour federation's divided leadership and called on President Thabo Mbeki to reinstate Jacob Zuma as deputy president of the country.

This comes a day after Mbeki asked Cosatu to support the ANC in the local government elections.

It is not clear whether union members will carry out their threat of boycotting the polls if their demands are not met.

The union federation's call also comes barely two months after Cosatu, led by president Willy Madisha and secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi, met and declared unequivocal support for Zuma's successor, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

Mbeki fired Zuma after the Durban High Court found he had a "generally corrupt relationship" with his financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, a businessman. Shaik was convicted of corruption.

Zuma told delegates at Cosatu's central committee conference yesterday that: "One day I will say how I felt throughout this process, when the day comes. As a worker, as a cadre, as a freedom fighter, I must have some feelings of what is happening.

"I must be having a very deep analysis of everything. But as a cadre who is disciplined, I behave in a disciplined manner, and I will continue to do so."

Cosatu's central committee, comprising about 500 delegates, made the radical call for Zuma's reinstatement on Monday night. It followed a rebellion from the floor at the ANC's national general council meeting last month that saw Zuma resuming his duties as ANC deputy president.

The call is in stark contrast with the earlier stance by Cosatu's leadership that it was Mbeki's prerogative to appoint and dismiss his cabinet.

The central committee also called "for the withdrawal of all the charges against comrade Zuma".

"It is clear that he will not get a fair trial. In this context, Cosatu will start a petition campaign to call on the president to ensure a withdrawal of charges," its resolution says.

In earlier comments made on behalf of the trade union federation leadership, Vavi and Madisha have said the law must take its course and that if Zuma is found guilty, "we will say you have disappointed us".

Vavi was at pains yesterday to explain that the central committee, the highest decision-making body of Cosatu between conferences, had rejected the leadership's position.

Government spokesman Joel Netshitenzhe said he would not be able to respond until a formal submission had been received from Cosatu.

The central committee said there was a risk that a hostile judge would find unfairly against Zuma and that "neo-liberals" might use state resources to get rid of "cadres of the revolution".

"The judiciary must be independent of short-run political interferences, but must be transformed to ensure a bias towards the interests and rights of the majority of our people. The matter must be handled politically, through our organisation and the alliance and not in a narrow legal fashion," said the central committee.

Despite the overwhelming support from affiliates for Zuma, some of Cosatu's senior leaders argue that he is not necessarily a friend of the workers.

But the central committee, which called for Cosatu members to stage demonstrations whenever Zuma appeared in court, said it would intervene in "any matter which touches and threatens the interests of the working class".

Zuma also cautioned against division in the ANC and the alliance, saying it "is a disease we need to fight resolutely".

"The moment you shy away from discussing this issue you are, in fact, fertilising the ground for gossip, cliqueism and factionalism," he said.

"Where will people discuss if they are not able to discuss in legitimate forums? We must raise the level of criticism, and self-criticism, which at times, when the situation is not right, politicians are so much afraid of."

Meanwhile, workers have overwhelmingly supported the Friends of Jacob Zuma trust fund, launched yesterday to pay for the former deputy president's legal fees.

"(The fund) is a collaborative effort between Cosatu, its affiliates, business and civil society groups who are concerned about the welfare of (Zuma) as well as his prospects for a fair trial, considering the many prejudices he has suffered prior to being charged," said businessman Don Mkhwanazi, who chairs the fund's board of trustees.

He refused to disclose the names of businessmen involved, but said there were many.

With acknowledgements to Moshoeshoe Monare and the Cape Times.