COSATU calls on GNU to hit the ground running
30 June 2024
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) notes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of the government of national unity (GNU) and welcomes its diverse representation including that of women and youth.
COSATU expects the GNU to hit the ground running and get on with the business of unlocking the economy, creating decent permanent jobs, reducing poverty and inequality and ensuring inclusive growth beyond the paltry 1% the country has endured in recent years.
Whilst COSATU and our allies, the South African Communist Party and the African National Congress, campaigned tirelessly for an outright ANC majority at the 29 May polls, we accept the will of voters to see political power shared amongst vastly different and contesting political formations. The GNU must be guided by the Constitution and the rule of law and be biased towards the needs of working-class communities. As the leading party nationally and provincially, we expect the policy mandate of the GNU to be anchored upon the ANC manifesto, as we cannot afford a free for all where each of the GNU’s 10 parties’ manifestos vie for space.
For the Federation it is crucial that the principles included in the GNU Declaration, specifically respecting the hard won constitutional and labour rights of workers as well as the transformation agenda be honoured. Equally critical for COSATU is the delivery of 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, supporting the African agenda and pledging solidarity with struggling nations across the world, including the Palestinian people.
COSATU will also keep a close eye on portfolios allocated to parties other than the ANC to ensure they deliver and do not stray from the GNU’s mandate. We will place the Democratic Alliance (DA) under stringent scrutiny to ensure it abandons its history of opposing workers hard won rights and transformation.
We will continue hold the ANC accountable and work to ensure it complies with its step-aside resolution for public representatives charged by law enforcement. It is important this progressive principle is adopted by other parties in government and Parliament if we are to win the war against state capture and corruption.
The GNU needs to be stable, coherent and deliver on its mandate. COSATU will work closely with the SACP and ANC to strengthen the Alliance and ensure the gains working-class communities have won since 1994 are not tempered with. We will engage with the broader trade union movement to unite Labour, defend collective bargaining and ensure that no attempt by any party to undermine the rights of workers at any level is allowed or entertained.
Issued by Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 1 July 2024
