The Tripartite Alliance – comprising the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the African National Congress (ANC) – only exists in its name and is otherwise an illusion. This is according to former South African president. Kgalema Motlanthe.
Speaking in an interview with Business Day, Motlanthe said that the ANC’s internal democracy was impaired, lacking the political ability and consciousness required to maintain a united and non-racial society — a key ideal articulated during the liberation struggle.
Further, he criticised Cosatu, which expelled general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, and its biggest union, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa).
"You have a situation when the office bearers actively go and divide the unions. I can’t think of anyone who claims to be a trade unionist who can, with clear conscience, expel 350 000 workers. It is unheard of," he said.
