COSATU congratulates President Cyril Ramaphosa on his second term
19 June 2024
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) congratulates President Cyril Ramaphosa on his inauguration for a second term as head of state of South Africa.
Admittedly, this was a difficult election for our Alliance Partners, the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party (SACP) and ourselves, however, we are grateful that millions of ordinary South Africans have entrusted the ANC to be leader of government nationally and across provinces.
COSATU derives great pleasure from seeing one of our own ascend to the Presidency. President Ramaphosa is the former General Secretary of our affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers. We are certain that the negotiation skills he perfected as a member of the labour movement will stand him in good stead, as he steers the country forward from this historic moment.
Thirty years into democracy, South Africa finds itself in unfamiliar territory with the installation of a government of national unity (GNU). As the President prepares to name his Cabinet, we call on him to keep the concerns of workers and working-class communities close to his heart by appointing Ministers that understand this mission. We expect him to safeguard the labour laws and gains that workers fought tooth and nail for over many decades.