Cosatu wants equal powers for alliance
ANC not assured election support
Cosatu has given a stern warning to the ANC, calling for alliance partners to be given equal powers in key government decision making.
On Thursday, re-elected general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali said alliance partners must be afforded an opportunity to have input in cabinet deployments and other key government policy decisions.
He was speaking at the conclusion of the trade union federation’s Cosatu’s 13th national congress in Midrand, north of Johannesburg.
“We want an alliance of equals where the alliance jointly decides on the direction and collectively drive the NDR [national democratic revolution]… including policy formulation, deployment and accountability and recourse,” said Ntshalintshali.
“The radical reconfigured alliance that we are calling for is based on the principle of consensus seeking, consultation processes and collective leadership of the NDR.”
For the first time, Cosatu has warned the ANC that it could throw its weight behind the SACP contesting the 2019 elections.
The SACP has been actively calling for the reconfiguration of the alliance where it would have a louder voice and bigger decision-making influence, while also toying with the idea of contesting elections.
Cosatu has complained of the ANC’s failure to implement its own policy decisions.
Turning to the elections, the federation vowed to support the ANC and to use its own financial resources in doing so.
“We resolved to mobilise for the victory of the ANC-headed reconfigured national democratic revolutionary alliance in the 2019 general elections. We should be working together with the SACP to ensure the reconfiguration of the alliance,” said Ntshalintshali.
However, first deputy president Mike Shingange of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union, said support for the ANC is not a done deal.
“We have a mandate from this conference to pursue other alternatives in case this matter of reconfiguration doesn’t work,” he said.
Zingiswa Losi was elected unopposed as the federation’s first female president.
Louise Chipe of the SA Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union was elected as the new second deputy president, while deputy general secretary Solly Phetoe retained his position, and so did treasurer Freda Oosthuysen.