Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi believes the ANC retaining power in the 2024 national and provincial polls is the best available option to workers.
Opening Cosatu's 14th congress at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg, Losi said the ANC might have made “mistakes” but the gains for workers under Luthuli House make up for this.
But it did not take long for workers to register their dissatisfaction with the ANC when they heckled national chairperson Gwede Mantashe as he was about to deliver a message of support. Workers started singing “hamba Mantashe”.
ANC leaders at the event did not immediately want to speak to the media, with NEC member Lindiwe Zulu saying the ANC will speak about the heckling at an appropriate time. “We are asking you nicely,” she pleaded with reporters.
Losi, however, believes the ANC is a better choice than a coalition government that would have to be formed should it get less than 50% of the vote in 2024.
“Do not be fooled by peacetime slogans of the opposition parties. The same opposition parties have consistently, when they are campaigning, voted against our progressive laws in parliament,” Losi told the about 2,000 delegates.
“The opposition parties have stated unambiguously they will scrap the minimum wage, they will end collective bargaining, they will remove protection from unfair dismissal, they will slash the salaries of and retrench public servants and sell all SOEs.
“We must admit in this congress that the ANC is not perfect; it has made serious mistakes. It is battling to cleanse itself of the demon of corruption and factionalism. Yet it stood with Cosatu when we demanded the constitutional enshrinement of workers' rights.”
Under ANC rule many pro-workers laws were passed.
Due to the multi-class character of the ANC, it was in the interests of workers to contest for their space within that arrangement instead of wanting a divorce from the ANC-led tripartite alliance, which also includes the SACP.
“We must help the ANC rid itself of criminal elements if it is to be saved. We must continue to support the SACP because its voice is critical more than ever now.
“The left axis of the alliance must be strengthened. Workers have sent a clear message to the ANC in the local government elections. If the ANC does not get its act together, we will face a repeat of the disastrous 2021 election results in 2024.
“And this is something workers cannot afford. Winning the 2024 elections for the ANC is about defending the hard-won victories and the rights of workers. And we cannot afford to fail. We have seen in the metros, a government led by the opposition will spell the end of many victories workers have achieved.”
Even if the coalition post-2024 polls is still led by the ANC, it would not benefit Cosatu members as the ANC will be unable to do as it pleases without the buy-in of its partners.
“Once you go to a government of coalition, voters must know that what they voted for has been thrown out of the window. What will be discussed at the coalition negotiation table is about the personalities and who gets what.”
TimesLIVE
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
Workers boo Mantashe as Cosatu president warns of impact of ANC losing power in 2024 polls
The president of the trade union federation says despite the ANC's 'serious mistakes', keeping it in power is the better devil
Image: Alaister Russell
Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi believes the ANC retaining power in the 2024 national and provincial polls is the best available option to workers.
Opening Cosatu's 14th congress at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg, Losi said the ANC might have made “mistakes” but the gains for workers under Luthuli House make up for this.
But it did not take long for workers to register their dissatisfaction with the ANC when they heckled national chairperson Gwede Mantashe as he was about to deliver a message of support. Workers started singing “hamba Mantashe”.
ANC leaders at the event did not immediately want to speak to the media, with NEC member Lindiwe Zulu saying the ANC will speak about the heckling at an appropriate time. “We are asking you nicely,” she pleaded with reporters.
Losi, however, believes the ANC is a better choice than a coalition government that would have to be formed should it get less than 50% of the vote in 2024.
“Do not be fooled by peacetime slogans of the opposition parties. The same opposition parties have consistently, when they are campaigning, voted against our progressive laws in parliament,” Losi told the about 2,000 delegates.
“The opposition parties have stated unambiguously they will scrap the minimum wage, they will end collective bargaining, they will remove protection from unfair dismissal, they will slash the salaries of and retrench public servants and sell all SOEs.
“We must admit in this congress that the ANC is not perfect; it has made serious mistakes. It is battling to cleanse itself of the demon of corruption and factionalism. Yet it stood with Cosatu when we demanded the constitutional enshrinement of workers' rights.”
Under ANC rule many pro-workers laws were passed.
Due to the multi-class character of the ANC, it was in the interests of workers to contest for their space within that arrangement instead of wanting a divorce from the ANC-led tripartite alliance, which also includes the SACP.
“We must help the ANC rid itself of criminal elements if it is to be saved. We must continue to support the SACP because its voice is critical more than ever now.
“The left axis of the alliance must be strengthened. Workers have sent a clear message to the ANC in the local government elections. If the ANC does not get its act together, we will face a repeat of the disastrous 2021 election results in 2024.
“And this is something workers cannot afford. Winning the 2024 elections for the ANC is about defending the hard-won victories and the rights of workers. And we cannot afford to fail. We have seen in the metros, a government led by the opposition will spell the end of many victories workers have achieved.”
Even if the coalition post-2024 polls is still led by the ANC, it would not benefit Cosatu members as the ANC will be unable to do as it pleases without the buy-in of its partners.
“Once you go to a government of coalition, voters must know that what they voted for has been thrown out of the window. What will be discussed at the coalition negotiation table is about the personalities and who gets what.”
TimesLIVE
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
MORE:
SONGEZO ZIBI | Before we can talk about a compact, we need a new social contract — and quick
It’s time ANC leadership contenders campaigned openly, and with policy plans
The champagne socialists claiming to lead SA's poor still wedded to discredited dogma
Lies and deceit are de rigueur, but do nothing for democracy
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most read
Latest Videos