The Citizen writes that the threat by labour federation Cosatu not to vote for the ANC in next year’s election might be more huff and puff than reality.  

Political analyst Dumisani Hlophe commented that, although Cosatu might want to project a critical public posture against the ANC, it did not mean there was much chance of a serious fight that might spoil their relationship for good.  In his view, Cosatu has “to cultivate an image that they are autonomous.  But we shouldn’t read that to mean their relations are going sour; it’s in the nature of the game.”  Hlophe added that, currently, the relationship between the ANC and Cosatu and even the entire alliance was good.  “There is a favourable relationship between Cyril Ramaphosa and some leaders in Cosatu and that will remain so for some time,” he stated.  On Tuesday, following its special central executive committee (CEC) meeting on Monday, Cosatu said it would not vote for the ANC if government pushed ahead with its plan to retrench 30,000 civil servants.  The federation’s top leadership was instructed by the CEC to seek a meeting with the ANC top six to give them an unambiguous message that “workers will not vote against their interests in the upcoming national elections”.

• Read this report by Eric Naki in full at The Citizen
• See too, Cosatu threatens to leave ANC alliance over plans to retrench state workers, at SowetanLive

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