Cosatu's leadership is struggling to contain an explosive rebellion within the labour federation that could see members boycotting elections and refusing to help campaign for the ANC.

The situation was precipitated by yesterday's raid on Jacob Zuma's homes, two days after Cosatu's central committee demanded that all charges against the former deputy president be dropped.

Even before the central committee meeting, Cosatu affiliates in provinces such as KwaZulu Natal and Limpopo, a strong ANC electoral base, indicated their disillusion with the ruling party's treatment of Zuma.

"We are running a risk of our members, whom the ANC depends on, not going to the polls for voting or campaigning," said a Cosatu executive member.

The federation's leadership is to hold an urgent special central executive committee meeting next week to come up with a strategy "to explain to our members the consequences of their intended actions".

A leader in the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) confirmed they were facing "our worst nightmare".

"The ANC must understand the serious consequences (of such) actions among the workers. Whether the leadership of Cosatu want it or not, the workers feel differently.

"In my union, for instance, they are asking the rationale of being active in the election campaigns while the same party (ANC) is persecuting their leader (Zuma)."

An office-bearer in the SA Democratic Teachers Union said their concern as the leadership was that "this matter has to be resolved before the elections campaign or else".

"What do we tell people when we ask them to campaign and vote for the ANC? This issue has already created no-go areas in ANC constituencies, like in KwaZulu Natal where leaders are unable to talk to people without booing and pelting. If it is not resolved, the ANC has itself to blame."

While the Cosatu leadership is caught between reason and the emotions of its members, the affiliates - led by Sadtu, Nehawu and the National Union of Mineworkers - forced the central committee yesterday to adopt a political declaration in support of Zuma.

But they were persuaded not to include the elections ultimatum in the public statement.

"The political prosecution of Jacob Zuma risks plunging our new democracy into turmoil. It has already begun to divide our movement.

"We are in constant contact with the ANC leadership and will seek to discuss this state of affairs as soon as we get the opportunity", they said.

Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi read a statement which said: "The central committee unequivocally condemns the systematic and brutal persecution of Jacob Zuma by the National Prosecuting Authority."

He said they would not be intimidated by what he termed political blackmail, and that instead their members would be strengthened and would continue to support Zuma.

"The timing of the raids is a calculated provocation of the Cosatu central committee. This underscores the correctness of our conclusion that Jacob Zuma is facing a politically inspired trial and now persecution.

"His sin is to be loved by the working class and the poor," Vavi added.

Immediately after the raids at Zuma's homes, delegates at Cosatu's central committee meeting discussed how ANC leaders in government were abusing state power to "deal with Zuma".

With acknowledgements to Moshoeshoe Monare and The Star.