‘Vote for both’: Cosatu stuck between ANC and SACP as two parties battle

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has urged workers to vote for both the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) in the upcoming local government elections. This stance was announced during the alliance’s 15th national congress, held recently in Johannesburg. Cosatu’s decision to support both parties was part of a set of resolutions dubbed the “super resolutions”.

Gerald Twala, the federation’s representative, stated that Cosatu reaffirmed its commitment to the alliance and called on workers to vote for both the ANC and the SACP as members of the alliance. This decision comes a day after ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe had a heated exchange with the SACP leadership during the congress.

Mantashe demanded that the SACP’s representative speak first before the ANC delivered its message of support to Cosatu. This led to confusion at the conference, prompting Mantashe to walk out of the plenary room without delivering his message of support. He later claimed his actions were an act of loyalty to the ANC, not arrogance.

Despite the federation’s support for both parties, Twala emphasized that Cosatu should still stand for workers and address their challenges. He also suggested that the electoral strategies of the ANC and the SACP should strengthen workers’ unity rather than cause division. Another resolution from the congress is to engage alliance partners and affiliates through structured consultations to build unity and adopt a coordinated election strategy, including cases where the ANC and the SACP contest each other.

The ANC has previously discussed its relationship with the SACP, including the fact that both parties will face each other in various municipalities during the elections. The ANC’s constitution allows for dual membership in both parties. The National Executive Committee (NEC) reaffirmed that the ANC constitution explicitly regulates conduct during elections, prohibiting members from standing, campaigning, or canvassing against an endorsed candidate.

This rule applies to all members, including those who have dual membership with the SACP, ensuring discipline in the electoral arena according to the party’s statement in April.