The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) rejects recent claims that NUMSA and FAWU are “in talks to return” to COSATU. There is no organisational mandate from either NUMSA or FAWU to do so. FAWU voluntarily disaffiliated from COSATU in protest against the expulsion of NUMSA and because the federation had ceased to serve the independent interests of the working class. NUMSA, by contrast, was brutally expelled by the very leadership that today falsely claims to be committed to worker unity, after leading a sustained, principled internal struggle to defend COSATU’s independence, militancy and working-class character.
WHAT NUMSA ACTUALLY RESOLVED VERBATIM
NUMSA’s Special National Congress Resolution on the challenges facing COSATU records the political degeneration of COSATU in precise terms:
“COSATU is no longer a campaigning federation. There has been a failure to implement congress resolutions such as the resolutions for a campaign against the banning of labour brokers, against e-tolling and the proposed youth wage subsidy.”
“There are two voices, crystallised into two camps, coming from within and amongst COSATU’s top leadership: a camp that wants COSATU to continue to fight for socialism and against neo-liberalism and another that wants a COSATU that acts as the ‘labour desk’ of the ANC thereby consciously or unconsciously advancing the neo-liberal project underway in South Africa.’’
“At the centre of these problems are concerted efforts to turn the federation into a conveyor belt that feeds ANC-led government policies into the working class and thus turn COSATU from a revolutionary, militant and independent union movement into a ‘yellow federation’.’’
“Certain leaders of the Alliance are deeply involved and are in fact the main drivers of the divisions in our federation.’’
And most decisively, NUMSA resolved:
“If COSATU is incapable of remaining united around a militant programme of action we should begin the process of forming a new federation.’’
SAFTU is the direct product of this binding resolution. It was not formed out of impatience, fragmentation or opportunism, but as the organisational outcome of a defeated internal struggle to reclaim COSATU from political capture, neoliberalism and privatisation.
THE POLITICAL CONTEXT OF THE EXPULSIONS
These expulsions and attacks on independent unionism took place while COSATU’s leadership was politically misled and captured in service of factional interests within the African National Congress under the patronage of Jacob Zuma, in alliance with the South African Communist Party. This leadership was deeply frustrated by a worker movement that was beginning to take independent positions against corruption, neoliberalism and privatisation.
Through these actions they weakened and dangerously fragmented the trade union movement. Instead of embarking on a serious process of introspection on why they are now a shadow of their former selves, they have resorted to political gymnastics and historical revisionism, peddling the dishonest “come back home” narrative.
This narrative is not about rebuilding worker power. It is about manufacturing a false image of unity in the hope of bolstering the worsening electoral fortunes of the ruling elites, not to advance a workers’ agenda, but to stabilise the bourgeois interests that have benefited most from 31 years of misgovernance, privatisation, neoliberal restructuring and plunder.
SAFTU’s Position on Unity, based on the NEDLAC Labour School Declaration (Verbatim)
SAFTU’s approach to unity is grounded strictly in unity in action, as adopted jointly by the four federations at the NEDLAC Annual Labour School, convened under the theme:
“Building unity of workers to defend labour rights and advance decent work for all.”
The declaration prioritises:
“Rejecting austerity measures and rejecting the putting of profits before people.”
“Defending workers’ hard-won gains and ensuring implementation of laws and agreements that advance the interests of workers.’’
“Defending state institutions and public services, increasing their resourcing and capacity, and challenging any attempts to privatise or weaken them.”
“Building workers’ unity and labour’s capacity to advance workers’ ability to deliver on the Constitutions promises.’’
On campaigns, the declaration commits the federations to:
“A joint National Day of Action against austerity and an economic policy that prioritises profits over people with the slogan ‘People before profits building a front against austerity, the water crisis and privatisation.’’
On unity in practice, the Actions Plan further resolves:
“To task the General Secretaries of the four Federations to ensure that we implement the decisions to tighten the coordination of solidarity actions to drive the goal of unity towards the establishment of the Confederation as a first step to maximise the unity of the trade union movement.’’
“Active joint action and campaigns to show unity in practice.’’
Unity based on historical falsification, political capture and expulsion-amnesia serves ruling elites, not workers.
Unity based on militant action against austerity, privatisation, neoliberalism and corruption serves the working class.
SAFTU stands firmly and unambiguously on the second path.
A statement was issued on behalf of SAFTU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.
For media inquiries contact the National Spokesperson at:
Newton Masuku:
0785164094
Media Officer
Asive Dyani
0719019564
