North West Cosatu declares war on ANC-led provincial government

A top local official says the Congress of the SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) in North West province has declared war on the ANC led provincial government before it could even settle in.

“We are highly disappointed with the manner in which we are being treated and we will have to take the matter to our constitutional structures and the members on the ground to develop a program of action,” said the provincial secretary, Solly Phetoe.

He said the federation would mobilise  workers and communities to  make conditions hostile for the MECs who were appointed by the premier Supra Mahumapelo.

“We want to be on record that we will be consulting our affiliates, our members and communities to make sure that we expose some of those appointed as so-called MECs and make their work difficult with our members.”

Cosatu in the province is furious that the ANC has  marginalised the federation  when it appointed members of the executive council (MEC) in the legislature.

Mahumapelo is also said to have appointed members that belong to  his faction who refused to campaign particularly in  mining areas.

“We have learned that the ANC has been going on with its appointment of new MECs without consulting or talking to the alliance  structures as they did during election campaign.”

“We are not happy with with the capacity of the current appointed MECs. It is clear that people were allocated positions on a friendship and not on a basis of taking people of the North West seriously,” he said.

ANC provincial spokesman  Oupa Matla said Cosatu and other alliance partners were consulted and their views were considered when the final decision was taken.

“The Premier made the final decision based on inputs that were made by all components,” said Matla.

Matla said the provincial government has received a resignation letter from  The ANC in the North West Province has received a voluntary resignation from the MEC of Social Development  Ontlametse Mochari.

“This happened as a consequence of a legal technicality in order to totally comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act,” he said.

Mochari is a mayor in a local council.