ANC Tripartite Alliance in trouble over Government of National Unity

3-minute read
27 July 2024 | 17:49 CAT

Image/ Muslim Views

The ANC may have survived its poor performance in the May elections. Still, the decision to enter into a government of national unity with parties such as the DA and several other smaller parties negatively impacted its Alliance partners.

Cosatu, the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the ANC form the Tripartite Alliance.

Despite being a long-time ally of the ANC and campaigning for the party since 1994, Cosatu was shockingly not ‘consulted’ or asked to contribute to the formation of the government of National Unity (GNU).

Instead, it was “briefed” on the plan to form a government and the resulting Statement of Intent.

Cosatu’s first deputy president, Michael Shingange, said, “In the instance of the GNU, the ANC has chosen to be clear about the independence of each one of us.”

Despite welcoming the GNU and the Statement of Intent, Cosatu remains staunchly opposed to the DA and its policies, particularly those that hinder labour reforms seeking to improve workers’ lives.

“The tripartite alliance between the ANC, Cosatu and the South African Communist Party (SACP) after the 1994 elections. As has been made indisputably evident since then, Cosatu has not been much more than convenient electoral fodder for the ANC for 21 years, which is a long time given the huge expectations of Cosatu members had in 1994,” says Political Analyst and Author Ebrahim Harvey.

Harvey added, “I have written many articles since the 1990s pointing to the inevitability of a split in the alliance.”

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Ebrahim Harvey here.

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