Cosatu calls for alliance talks as SACP prepares to go solo

Ahead of the upcoming local government elections, which are anticipated to be particularly contentious, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has taken on the responsibility of organizing a meeting among the three key alliance partners: the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the African National Congress (ANC).

This initiative follows a recent press briefing, following the Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting of Cosatu on August 25, 2022, where an Alliance Political Council was established to facilitate discussions among the three parties. Despite the SACP's decision to participate in the elections, Cosatu's Central Committee (8th Central Committee) has directed the organization of this Alliance Political Council to determine the best strategies for the parties to contest the elections effectively.

During a press briefing, Mike Shingange, the first deputy president of Cosatu, emphasized the need to establish clear modalities for the electoral process. Cosatu's leadership has also expressed grave concerns over the migration crisis, which has reportedly led to over 200,000 migrants leaving South Africa, primarily heading to countries like Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana, and Nigeria.

This exodus has been fueled by widespread protests against the nation's socio-economic challenges, which are causing significant strain in relations with neighboring countries.

Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi highlighted that South Africa cannot manage the migration issue in isolation, urging African leaders to collaborate in addressing the root causes of the mass exodus. She questioned the feasibility of individual leaders addressing the migration crisis when they are already occupied with other international commitments, such as attending the United Nations and other global forums.

The financial burden of not providing adequate employment opportunities and ensuring continuity for those who have left is immense, Losi argued.

Echoing Losi's concerns, Mike Shingange stressed the importance of African governments creating environments that discourage citizens from seeking refuge elsewhere. He argued that people are unlikely to leave their countries for foreign lands unless there are pressing socio-economic or political issues, or severe persecution. Shingange called for a responsible approach to managing both legal and illegal migration, emphasizing the need to balance the push and pull factors involved, which could help stabilize the situation and prevent continued outflows of South African citizens.

As preparations for Cosatu's 15th National Congress, set to take place in Midrand from September 14 to 17, 2022, progress, the federation is urging its alliance partners to find common ground and prepare for the upcoming local government elections.