THE ANC tripartite alliance has fallen.
This after the Congress of South African Trade Unions’ (Cosatu) 14th conference adopted a resolution to support South African Communist Party (SACP) to contest for state power in the 2024 elections.
The groundbreaking news was conveyed by re-elected Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi in her closing remarks of the conference at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand outside Joburg on Thursday, 29 September.
“If the ANC must win the 2024 elections, they must listen to the workers. Comrades, this congress has reaffirmed its support for the SACP and the need for it to contest for the elections as part of the advancement of the national democratic revolution,” said Losi
She said the workers will now have to engage the SACP on the way forward. The announcement brought an end to confusion at the conference after it was announced that results on the vote of the motion to dump ANC was going to be communicated to affiliates.
The motion to pull out of the alliance had become a contentious issue since the conference began on Monday as powerful unions pushed for the motion to be adopted. After three days of the federation trying to monitor the situation and save face of alliance partner ANC, the matter was finally taken to the ballot.
But citing time constraints, as the conference was running way behind schedule, a draft declaration was presented to conference without the outcome on the motion.
You must be SIGNED IN to read comments
Delegates had gone to the polls to vote on whether they want the federation to resolve at this conference to support SACP to contest for power or there should be further consultations. This needed a majority of 50+1 to pass or fail but besides being vocal to have the motion adopted, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) suggested the results be communicated to affiliates rather. National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) general secretary William Mabapa, talking to Daily Sun on the sidelines of the conference, said this would not change the will of the workers as the voting was being monitored by observers.
Due to time constraints, declarations had also been adopted as framework and to be fine tuned by the central executive committee. Some affiliates, such as the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu), are understood to not have voted arguing they didn’t have the a mandate from their members.
Daily Sun understands that 543 voted to dump the ANC to 194 who wanted further engagements.The conference came to a close with deputy president Mike Shingange, second deputy president Duncan Luvuno, general secretary Solly Phetoe and treasurer Freda Oosthuizen elected unopposed.
The only contestation was for deputy secretary general, which was won with a landslide by Gerald Thwala.
