ANC or SACP? Cosatu leadership battle reflects alliance tensions
Political observers regard Cosatu as a crucial player capable of either helping preserve alliance unity, or strengthening one side in the growing feud.
Cosatu, the South African trade union federation, faced a leadership crisis at its national congress. Delegates were tasked with deciding whether to support the ANC or the South African Communist Party (SACP) in the upcoming local government elections. This decision mirrored the existing tensions between the two alliances.
Mike Shingange, Cosatu's first deputy president, was seen as a key figure closely aligned with the SACP and Nehawu. He emerged as a frontrunner for the presidency. On the other hand, outgoing president Zingiswa Losi, who was considered more aligned with President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC, sought to unseat Solly Phetoe, the incumbent general secretary.
The leadership battle highlighted the potential for Cosatu to become divided, with different factions associating with opposing sides of the ANC-SACP dispute. Political observers viewed Cosatu as a critical player, capable of either maintaining alliance unity or strengthening one side in the ongoing feud.
The support for either alliance could significantly impact Cosatu's role in the local government elections. If the ANC received backing, it might bolster the governing party's electoral efforts. Conversely, if the SACP garnered support, it would assist the Communist Party as it prepared to contest elections independently for the first time.
Delegates largely favored preserving unity rather than openly choosing sides. The resolution drafted at the congress encouraged members to support whichever alliance partner would best serve workers' interests. However, a proposal from Nehawu to abandon the ANC in favor of the SACP received support from some affiliates but faced resistance from others.
Critics argued that such a move would contradict Cosatu's long-standing commitment to strengthening the ANC within a united alliance framework. Delegates also debated concerns that the ANC's market-friendly economic policies had distanced it from organized labor, while others maintained that the SACP remained more closely identified with working-class interests.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
