WATCH | Cosatu’s Zingiswa Losi bemoans loss of support to MK Party’s new labour unions

COSATU

Cape Town — Cosatu President, Zingiswa Losi, has said the African National Congress (ANC) labour movements are losing support as the uMkhonto weSizwe is forming its labour unions.

Losi echoed the words of Cosatu deputy president and president of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) Mike Shingange, who said the ANC is bleeding the support of the tripartite alliance (featuring the South African Communist Party (SACP) as well), was evident by the outcome of the 2024 general elections, IOL reported.

Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Losi agreed with Shinganage’s sentiments and said it was a mammoth task for the ANC to campaign for the elections.

“Indeed, this is what we share, remember the president of Nehawu is the first deputy president of Cosatu and these are the discussions we have had in the Cosatu CEC (central executive committee) and also as Cosatu national office-bearers,” she said.

“We accept when we make a reflection that we have indeed suffered as trade unions or as a federation because some of our shop stewards in different affiliates went to join the MK party as a political home,” she added.

Losi said there were campaign was difficulties during the campaign to get the shop stewards to speak about the resolution of Cosatu in support of the ANC because of members’ affiliation with the MK Party. In the aftermath of the elections, Losi said she was informed of the MK’s Labour structures.

“What we have also realised is that the MK party has opened up a trade union, I think, in the teacher’s sector and other sectors, but also a federation which they tried to also register with the registrar in the Department of Labour,” she said.

“It is a reality that every time we go to elections when there is a new political party in particular that has been formed, you would have members that will find themselves a new political home. That is the reality,” she said.

In addition to the loss of labour union support, Losi spoke about the ANC losing its identity amidst the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) and believes if the ANC fails to serve the interests of the constituency, it will continue to lose further support.
“Firstly, we have to accept the reality that the ANC is below 50%, it’s sitting at 40. Secondly, what I understand is that there was a meeting that was called of the Alliance’s political council where the alliance’s political leadership was convened and Cosatu then tabled our views with regard to a government and the choices that we think the ANC could,” she said.
She acknowledged that the ANC does not have a simple majority and understands that the ANC would need to consult its NEC for the NEC to direct the leadership which resulted in the formation of the GNU.
“Cosatu understands that we had to also appreciate the reality of the outcomes of the election results and therefore when the ANC decided to form the GNU, which of course it has convened all political parties,” she said.

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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