By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) celebrated 40 years of existence at the Dobsonville stadium in Soweto on Saturday.
Founded in December 1985, COSATU sought to fight for the rights of workers during the apartheid regime by mobilising workers through national stayaways, strikes and community campaigns.
The biggest trade union in the country has experienced dwindling support over the years, with a current membership of 1.6 million.
President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address at Dobsonville Stadium, commending COSATU’s achievements over the past four decades.
Cosatu’s 40th anniversary comes as the tripartite alliance – between Cosatu, the ANC and the South African Communist Party (SACP) has shown shown cracks.
Ramaphosa, however, said the ANC is working to strengthen the alliance.
“The ANC is determined to strengthen the relationship between the workers of our country and the ANC. It is also determined to strengthen the strategic alliance that it has with Cosatu, with SANCO, and the SACP, despite the many challenges that we must face. We must therefore close ranks and unite and advance the national democratic revolution.”
SACP general-secretary Solly Mapaila used the anniversary to complain that the tripartite alliance is not working well.
“The alliance is not functioning well at the moment. [There are] lots of meetings but no agreements on fundamentals, particularly on how to build an economy that is inclusive, an economy that will serve the people of this country, instead of this neo-liberal economy that we have been given in the name of inclusivity that continues to perpetuate the oppression and exploitation of the workers.”
Cosatu President Zingiswa Losi called for more unity within the tripartite alliance.
“The ANC, the SACP, SANCO, Cosatu, let’s go and agree on the modalities of powers and alliances. We shall rise united to win the local government elections that are coming. We have to speak to the unity of the alliance. We must not allow ourselves to hand over what we fought so hard for,” said Losi.
Losi added that any member in good standing is free to contest positions through the ANC’s constitutional structures.
“You can’t campaign to de-campaign others. Campaign for what you can do.”
Her remarks follow reports that some ANC NEC members are plotting to unseat Ramaphosa ahead of the party’s National General Council meeting from December 8 to 12.