Daily Maverick
Dailymaverick logo

South Africa

South Africa

Cosatu not consulted about government of national unity — ‘that train had long left’

Cosatu not consulted about government of national unity — ‘that train had long left’
Cosatu first deputy president Mike Shengange. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sharon Seretlo)
Michelle Banda
By Michelle Banda
24 Jun 2024
Facebook
0
Tripartite Alliance member Cosatu has voiced its opposition to the DA’s policies and emphasised the importance of maintaining labour rights.

Despite Cosatu being an ally of the African National Congress (ANC) and campaigning for the party since 1994, the federation says it was never “consulted” or asked to contribute to the formation of the government of national unity (GNU).

Instead, it was “briefed” on the plan to form a government and the resulting Statement of Intent.

Cosatu’s first deputy president, Michael Shingange, said, “In the instance of the GNU, the ANC has chosen to be clear about the independence of each one of us.” 

cosatu gnu shengange Cosatu first deputy president Mike Shengange. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sharon Seretlo)



The labour federation briefed the media on Monday on the outcomes of its Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting held last week. The federation also reflected on the results of the recent general elections, the formation of the GNU and the soon-to-be-appointed Cabinet.

Cosatu, the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the ANC form the Tripartite Alliance.

Read more in Daily Maverick: Then there were 10 – unity government hits double digits while talks continue over Cabinet posts

“We had hoped to be consulted because the Statement of Intent and things that need to be contained in the body [of the document] should have taken into consideration the interest of all concerned, ourselves included,” said Shingange.

“Sadly, it’s a Statement of Intent for political parties who contested the elections. We did not contribute anything to the statement. We were briefed about it, we had our views, supported some, and had concerns about some.

“But at the end of the day, it is a Statement of Intent for those wanting to get into a marriage and we are not part of that marriage as Cosatu.”

Shingange said Cosatu would have preferred the ANC to lead a minority government. 

“That train had long left by the time we had an opportunity to engage with our allies. The announcement of the GNU was long made,” said Shingange. 

DA inclusion ‘unavoidable’


Nonetheless, Cosatu has welcomed the GNU and the Statement of Intent while remaining opposed to the DA and its policies, claiming the DA opposes labour reforms seeking to improve the lives of workers.

“We have come to accept as a country and a labour movement that constitutionally it is the prerogative of the President of the country to put together an executive of the country. We have also come to appreciate that these are not some of the previous elections where the ANC or one party would have won and therefore reserves the right to constitute a government.

“The inclusion of the DA is unavoidable now that they are part of the GNU, despite our opposing views on their policies. But for as long as their conduct and mandate will be in line with the Constitution and Bill of Rights, it will be in line with the need to change the living and working conditions of South Africans,” said Shingange.

Referring to racist comments made by suspended DA MP Renaldo Gouws, Cosatu’s general secretary, Solly Phetoe, said the DA was a racist, anti-worker party but now that it was part of the government it should be more for the working class.

“We are unapologetic that DA continues to consistently present issues of racism. One of their members who is in Parliament made a statement that is dangerous and threatening to workers in particular and the DA said, no he is suspended and must be investigated.

“He must be charged and face the music… It’s racism and racism is criminal.

Phetoe said that Cosatu expected, “that we should not experience a reversal of the progress we have made … for the last 30 years in the economic trajectory, rights of the majority of the working class, national minimum wage, national health insurance, terms and conditions of employment, Employment Equity Act and affirmative action.

“That is an action that we still expect, irrespective of who is going to be put up in government.”  

Cosatu is mobilising for a strike, which it is calling a “day of national economic action”, in August or September. The date has yet to be announced. 

Phetoe said: “This will be an economic strike targeting businesses both in private and public sectors because these are the people retrenching workers, including government. The issues are overarching — retrenchment and not respecting the rights of workers.” 

Impact diluted


Unisa political analyst Professor Dirk Kotzé said Cosatu’s concerns over the DA stemmed from its role in protecting the rights of its members, many of whom were in the public sector. The DA has urged the government to reduce the public wage bill and criticised employees’ salary increases.

“What will also have an effect on [Cosatu] is the many partners forming the GNU and the fact that the ANC has to consult all of them when they want to take important decisions,” said Kotzé.

“It dilutes the impact of the Communist Party and Cosatu in such decision-making powers because they were in the past part of a consultation process, for example for the appointment of ministers and before the Sona speech, lekgotlas.

“They had privileged access to the ANC. Now that there are so many others that the ANC has to listen to, that privileged access to some extent is tamed down. They have to now share that access.” DM

Categories:

Tags: