LETTER: Has Cosatu lost its sting?
On August 24, 2022, Cosatu and Saftu marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. The march didn’t get the much-needed support from the workers. Many people went to work, as if nothing was happening, and business was also open for the day, except in Pretoria.
• Thabile Mange writes:
The protest season is upon us. South Africans are disgruntled because of poor service delivery. On the other hand, political leaders are living large in a sea of poverty. Not only that, they don’t seem to care about the poor material condition of the masses. Indeed we get the government we deserve.
On August 24, 2022, Cosatu and Saftu marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. The two labour union federations marched against the cost of living, high fuel price and food prices. They forgot to add the high unemployment rate, which is unprecedentedly high.
That the two big labour union federations agreed to march alongside each other shows the seriousness of the issues they have raised. Even the government agreed that the issues raised by labour unions are real and genuine. But what is the government doing about that? Nothing!
Back to the labour federations march. The march didn’t get the much-needed support from the workers. Many people went to work, as if nothing was happening, and business was also open for the day, except in Pretoria. Therefore, the economy was affected as much as expected.
This shows that Cosatu has lost its sting. (Saftu is still a new kid on the block.) No, it has become a toothless dog. This is a cause for concern. Without a strong left, the government and capitalists will do as they please. And the poor will be exploited, as they already are.
Where did it all go wrong?
Cosatu is in alliance with the ANC. And some of its leaders are in government. Also the labour federation has helped Jacob Zuma to be the president. So, the labour federation played a political role instead of defending the interest of workers.
Now, it cannot expect the masses to support its march, despite the issues it has raised, given the political role it has – and continues to – played. By virtue of being in alliance with the governing ANC, it is part of the problem. Therefore, it cannot absolve itself by merely organising a march.
Having said that, the lack of support for the Wednesday march has dire consequences for the labour federations and workers. Employers and government are likely to ram their decisions against workers. They have realised that labour is weak.
What’s the possible solution? The labour federation should work hard to regain the confidence of the workers. How? It should cease to be part of the tripartite alliance. (I doubt it will.) That way, it will send a strong message that it has no political interest. And the workers will begin to trust it.
