ALLIANCE POLITICS
NATASHA MARRIAN: Cosatu faced with an existential threat
The strongest indication that the Ramaphosa honeymoon is over was delivered this week in a scathing attack from union federation Cosatu, the president’s first political home and the first in the ruling party alliance to openly support Cyril Ramaphosa’s presidency. Cosatu threatened not to support the ANC in the 2019 election should the economic situation — particularly regarding retrenchments — fail to improve. It is not the first time Cosatu has faced disappointment in its pick for ANC presidency, although the descent into despair has certainly been quicker than it was for former president Jacob Zuma. This despair is quickly morphing into anger, likely to prompt the federation to take far-reaching decisions at its national congress in September. Among them could be a resolution to push the SA Communist Party towards contesting future elections. Depending on whether the mood in the country shifts by then, it could even put the ANC on terms over which party it will support in the nat...
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