DEPENDENCY ON ANC
XOLISA PHILLIP: Death of alliance began long before Zuma
One is tempted to say that it is unfair to blame Zuma for all the ills afflicting the tripartite arrangement
A requiem for the tripartite alliance, comprising the ANC, labour federation Cosatu and the South African Communist Party (SACP): the alliance is all but dead, and its fate was sealed long before President Jacob Zuma ascended to the party’s top spot at the ANC elective congress held in Polokwane in 2007. In fact, one is tempted to say that it is unfair to blame Zuma for all the ills afflicting the tripartite arrangement — he is, after all, only in charge of one arm of the alliance, which is the governing party. The aggressive dependency of Cosatu and the SACP on the ANC’s largesse, in the form of plum state jobs and the prospect of securing seats in Parliament, is at the core of the alliance’s rapid decline. Who would not be fed up with allies who are constantly taking without giving anything in return — only a political pacifist, and Zuma has shown in his 10-year rule that he is anything but.History tells us that the relationship underpinning the alliance has always been fraught, b...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.