COSATU welcomes the re-election of President Ramaphosa, the election of the Premiers and Presiding Officers, and the convening of Parliament and the Provincial Legislatures
June 14, 2024
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) welcomes the re-election of President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, the election of the Premiers and Presiding Officers, and the convening of Parliament and the Provincial Legislatures. We congratulate our allies, the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) for a well-run election campaign under the most difficult circumstances and for their election to lead national and provincial government and legislatures across the country.
We celebrate the affirmation of gender empowerment by the ANC with the election of strong women as Premiers and Speakers in the National Assembly, the Free State and Limpopo as well as Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Northern and Easten Cape.
We are proud of the many products of COSATU who have been elected to Parliament and the Provincial Legislatures and trust they will continue to wage working class struggles in their new deployments.
The Federation notes the declaration of intent establishing a Government of National and Provincial Unity (GNU). Whilst COSATU, as a militant and principled socialist trade union federation, remains deeply opposed to the inclusion of right-wing political parties, in particular the Democratic Alliance, in the GNU, we expect our ally, the ANC, as the leader of the GNU, to honour and respect the clear mandate it received from millions of workers.
This specifically includes respecting the hard won constitutional and labour rights of workers as well as the transformation agenda. We welcome the inclusion of these principles in the GNU Declaration and will hold government accountable for their implementation without fear or favour.
Equally sacrosanct to the Federation, is for the GNU, led by the ANC, to maintain its transformation programme, including delivering the National Health Insurance and comprehensive social security, supporting the principles of employment equity and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment, accelerating the war on crime and corruption, investing in the developmental state and well-resourced public services, intensifying the renewal campaign, supporting the African agenda and pledging solidarity with struggling nations across the world, including the Palestinian people.
The Federation expects the composition of the 7th administration to reflect this mandate and to be unashamedly biased towards the needs of working-class communities. Once the Presidential Inauguration and the appointment of Cabinet is concluded, it is critical government moves with speed to convene the envisaged indaba with Organised Labour, Business and Civil Society to agree on a clear set of progressive and decisive actions for the 7th administration and then to move with speed to capacitate the state, grow an inclusive economy and create decent jobs.
COSATU will continue to play, without exception, its part on behalf of the working class and in defence of workers. We will engage with the broader trade union movement to unite Labour and ensure that no attempt by any party to undermine the rights of workers at any level is allowed or entertained.
Workers have given government the privilege to lead. They expect government to deliver that Better Life for All. They deserve nothing less. There are no blank cheques.
Statement issued by COSATU, 14 June 2024
