Economic policy ministers

The Congress of South African Trade Unions welcomes the important debate initiated by the ANC Youth League around the racial composition of the ministers in the economic policy cluster (see report).

The federation agrees with the Youth League that the national question remains important in South Africa. However, the class and gender aspect of the national liberation struggle are of equal importance. The struggle on all three fronts has always been at the heart of the national democratic revolutionary struggle and no one of the three is more of a priority than the others.

COSATU reaffirms its unequivocal support for the three ministers in the Economics cluster - Ebrahim Patel, Rob Davies and Pravin Gordhan. The President could not have made a better choice. We are fully confident that they will advance the NDR, particularly its class struggle component, as they are fully committed to the progressive policies of Polokwane and the ANC manifesto, on issues such as creating more decent jobs, eliminating poverty and reducing inequality.

Statement issued by COSATU, August 11 2009

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