PRETORIA. As strike action continues unabated, Cosatu Secretary General, Zwelinzima Vavi has confirmed that the union’s marriage to the ANC has become dysfunctional. But he said both sides were determined to keep up appearances for the sake of their children, Julius and Floyd.
A spokesperson for the ANC said it was an open secret that the long-time partners were no longer sharing the marital bed.
"In fact things are so bad that most conversations now start with the phrase, ‘please put down the gun and call off The Hawks’.
"For the sake of the children, we are still living under the same roof," confirmed alliance spokesperson, Enmity Mokoena, who would neither confirm nor deny if winning a potential custody battle meant getting the children or getting rid of them.
But he said the confusing nature of their home life was starting to affect the kids badly.
"Marks are rock bottom. Discipline and self control have gone. They are always fighting. It’s not a good situation."
Clinical psychologist and relationship counselor, Piaget van Tonder, said it was very common in such situations for children to behave in an attention-seeking manner.
"Stealing. Fighting with their peers. Drinking. These are cries for help and common signs amongst youngsters dealing with the insecurities of an unhappy home life.
He said that if things didn’t improve on the home-front, the cries for help could become more desperate. "Sometimes they attempt suicide," he said, adding, "Malema may already have attempted political suicide, it’s hard to say."
But, he said, these symptoms of a broken or breaking home could be turned around and he called on the parents to show love and affection to each other, openly and honestly in front of the children.
"When dinner involves dad making eyes at western bankers while mom gets felt up by old school communists, it’s no wonder the children are confused," he said.
He said there was nothing wrong with a bit of open mouth kissing in front of the children to help convey a positive message. "But getting JZ and Zwelinzima to the logic of that approach might not be easy," he said.
