Staff Reporter.
File Photo.
Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi said that while the governing party is faced by many challenges, it has remained a loyal ally of the working class and all workers should make sure it is elected at the upcoming local government elections.
She said workers would be the biggest losers if the ANC lost the election.
Addressing Cosatu’s seventh central committee meeting on Friday, Losi urged workers to support the party despite its ongoing woes and growing tensions over a wage freeze for public-sector workers.
“We entered this historic central committee with many daunting challenges facing workers. Workers are facing unprecedented times. Unemployment has pushed past 44%, many face retrenchments, the economy is in its deepest recession in a century.”
Despite this, Losi urged members and affiliates to rally behind the ANC.
“The ANC has gone through a painful period. It is still recovering from the decade of state capture and the demons of factionalism. Yet it remains a loyal ally of workers,” she said.
ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa is on Monday expected to launch the party’s manifesto ahead of the polls.
“In compliance with COVID-19 protocols and regulations, the ANC manifesto launch will be held in Tshwane with less than 500 people in attendance. The launch will be followed by the localised manifesto launches in the metros and the rest of local municipalities.”
Cosatu is a key ally of the ANC and has supported the governing party in all elections since the dawn of democracy.