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BL Premium reports that Cosatu affiliates are bracing themselves for a tense central executive committee (CEC) meeting as more unions want to withdraw their support of the ANC in the upcoming general elections.
The unity of the tripartite alliance of the ANC, the labour federation and the SA Communist Party has been fragile for years over the governing party’s failure to consult on policy decisions and its departure from the grouping’s resolutions. At its congress in 2018 Cosatu resolved it would support the ANC as it heads to the polls in May, though this would only be done on condition that it adopted a pro-worker stance. On Monday, Cosatu affiliates said the time had come for the CEC to have a frank discussion about whether the party had decided in the best interest of workers. If not, a decision needed to be taken on cutting ties with the ANC. The unbundling of Eskom — which Cosatu opposes — and plans to reduce the public sector headcount through natural attrition are among the issues union leaders want to take the ANC to task over. At a meeting last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa could not convince Cosatu’s national office-bearers that the plan to unbundle Eskom by splitting it into three entities was in the best interest of workers and the company. It was agreed that Cosatu would meet Ramaphosa once more after the CEC meeting, with the federation’s leaders saying they wanted the government to present more proposals to save Eskom, other than unbundling. The CEC meeting will end on Wednesday.
- Read the original of Theto Mahlakoana’s report on the above in full at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page