Cosatu has new Cape leader
CLOTHING sector unionist Malvern de Bruyn has taken over from Tony Ehrenreich as the new provincial secretary of Cosatu in the Western Cape.
De Bruyn was elected at Cosatu’s provincial elective congress that ended yesterday. He has promised to revive the federation’s ground structures.
He was elected alongside provincial chairperson Mohlatse Tsobane, deputy chairperson Andile Ngqabeka and treasurer Ingrid Bukes.
“My most important goal is to grow our ground structures. We will be more visible in communities as well as in rural areas. Our presence on farms needs to be boosted with more people so that workers can take their concerns directly to the ground structures we have there,” De Bruyn said.
He also said Cosatu already had a solid foundation to work on. He admitted that he had big shoes to fill after the departure of Ehrenreich.
“We have a massive challenge ahead of us. We have the 2019 elections to focus on and get support for the ANC. We have several issues in the workplace that need to be tackled. I am glad that Tony does not completely leave us, he will still be there and will assist where he can,” he said.
Ehrenreich, who delivered his last address to Cosatu members this weekend, said the trade union’s biggest threat was policies that were driven by apartheid.
“The biggest problem that we had politically is that the unfolding political governance structures are driven by apartheid structured elites. So the political distance between the electorate and the people in governance is caused by the income disparities. The reality is that the objective conditions of your life change the consciousness with which your approach life,” he said.
Ehrenreich also said the ANC in the Western Cape had been its own worst enemy over the last few years; they focused on internal conflict instead of focusing on delivering to members while in office.