The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) must emerged more united from its 12th national congress, President Jacob Zuma said on Monday.

“We cannot achieved the genuine unity of the alliance if we do not comprehend where it comes from,” Zuma told delegates in Midrand, Johannesburg.

He said the alliance was like a spear and a shield. The one is used to fight and the other to defend.

“These two are ought to be together, you cannot have only one. If you have only the spear without the shield, you are in trouble…”

He said the alliance remained relevant today and needed each other because the onslaught against the working class was big.

“The ANC remains biased to the workers. The ANC fought to liberate this country,” Zuma said.

He called on worker to separate union work from political work.

“You can do both, but separate the two…”

He said Cosatu had never been a political party but a trade union federation.

“Workers need a well focused Cosatu.”

Zuma called on all Cosatu affiliates to build a united trade union federation and to not to allow their enemies to divide them.

“Do not fight your comrade, there is a bigger fight…”