By Amy Musgrave
The Congress of SA Trade Unions is still deciding on whether to support the SA Communist Party in its decision to contest next year’s local government elections.
The trade union affiliation said on Tuesday that its members and affiliates needed more time to decide on the way forward. This follows Cosatu holding a Special Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting on Monday.
Cosatu spokeswoman Zanele Sabela said in a statement the Special CEC resolved to continue engaging its members and its alliance partners, the SACP and African National Congress.
The meeting was convened as directed by the normal CEC in February to extend discussions on the federation’s political report and the SACP’s resolution.
A political commission was meant to sign off on a political report that would guide discussions towards Cosatu’s 8th Central Committee meeting in September 2025.
“It was initially anticipated that affiliates would use the period between the normal and Special CEC to report back to members on the SACP’s resolution, but there wasn’t enough time.
“Additionally, following the Special CEC, Cosatu and its affiliates would embark on a programme to raise class consciousness and regain the confidence of its constituencies prior to the 8th Central Committee, where the federation would pronounce on the SACP’s resolution to contest elections among other business.
“On presenting the signed off political report to the Special CEC yesterday, Cosatu affiliates and provinces deliberated and made inputs, and agreed to adopt the report as a discussion document leading up to the Central Committee in September,” Sabela said.
In the interim, the affiliates and provinces are expected to run political workshops to ensure that all members understand the content of the discussion paper and the CEC decision concerning the SACP’s resolution.
CEC members agreed not to make any hasty decisions on the SACP resolution, but instead invite both the ANC and SACP to outline their programmes and modalities on how the elections will be run.
The two will also be requested to clarify the issue of dual membership so that the federation can make an informed choice.
“All affiliates agreed that there is no need to urgently pronounce on the party’s resolution, but it was imperative to discuss it thoroughly and ensure that all members are brought onboard. Of absolutely importance, however, is to safeguard the unity of workers and not allow Cosatu to be divided as deliberations unfold,” she said.
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