Johannesburg - Cosatu wants the SACP to explore contesting state power soon. The federation’s congress resolved yesterday that it would pressure the SACP to “expedite” the process, while vowing to defend the organisation against what it called “emerging anti-communist sentiment”.
The declaration by Cosatu comes at a time when the state of the ANC-led alliance is making headlines and SACP leaders are being attacked by some in the ruling party.
Delegates were clear that the SACP needed to be built up in the event that they needed a new political home.
This would include increasing the depth of Cosatu’s relationship with the SACP as a political party with its socialist vision, and that the federation provide resources to build the SACP.
“The SACP remains the political vehicle of the working class and workers, in particular,” said the Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali.
However, for now Cosatu would stick with the ANC and campaign for it in next year’s local government elections.
The federation also spoke against changing the manner in which senior leaders were elected in the ANC.
“Concerned that the ANC is paralysed by internal factional battles and fixation with leadership contest, as the strategic ally, Cosatu calls on the ANC to maintain its established tradition and practice regarding succession of leadership,” Ntshalintshali said.
He was referring to the automatic elevation of deputy presidents to the position of president.
Most of Cosatu’s national office bearers were re-elected this week, and the federation’s North West secretary, Solly Phetoe, is now its deputy general secretary.
One of his main areas of focus would be working with other Cosatu leaders to ensure that the federation was united and campaign-oriented.
This would include the banning of labour brokers and putting pressure on the government to implement a wealth tax.
With the end of the four-day congress, the federation has now also closed the chapter on the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and axed Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.
After a two-hour heated debate, the overwhelming majority of the delegates voted to back the expulsion of Vavi and Numsa that was taken by Cosatu’s central executive committee. Hamba Kahle Vavi, eVavi, Vavi and Numsa. Hamba Kahle Vavi, delegates sang as they passed the motion.
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Cosatu warned that if the deadlock on the national minimum wage was not resolved in a week’s time, it would take its fight to the streets. Cosatu said it wanted the wage to be set at between 40% and 50% of the average wage.
Business is insisting that it be calculated by an “independent” group, instead of the National Economic, Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) where it is now being negotiated. But Cosatu is adamant that the negotiations must remain at Nedlac.
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