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BL Premium reports that the influence of labour federation Cosatu and the SA Communist Party (SACP) on government policy and legislation is set to take a knock after the ANC lost its outright majority during the general elections last week.
The ANC’s share of the vote plunged from 57% in 2019 to 40% in 2024. Cosatu and the SACP are part of the ANC-led tripartite alliance, which has been very influential in the development and passing of government policies and legislation. Cosatu and SACP have always supported the ANC during elections and its leaders have served as cabinet ministers. However, Stellenbosch University political analyst Prof Amanda Gouws said: “The tripartite alliance really never worked. They are not elected structures even though they were allowed by the ANC to govern and influence policy. But now the ANC doesn’t have a choice, it doesn’t have a majority, they will have to compromise with their coalition partners. Therefore, if Cosatu or the SACP want to influence policy, they will have to become elected members. An elected, democratic government cannot work with unelected structures.” Labour analyst and DA MP Michael Bagraim commented: “First the alliance will probably remain in place even though the ANC has lost its majority. The influence will drop somewhat. However, our system is structured on the basis of consultation.” He added that trade unions through their federations would remain influential and the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) “will not change its structure”. “The structure very carefully lends itself to input from the trade unions and the various worker federations. Even if the DA has a co-operation agreement with the ANC, it will not affect the current minimum wage and any changes to legislation will be subject to years of discussion,” he noted.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page