S’dumo Dlamini has called on all Western Cape Cosatu members to support the ANC in the national elections to end the DA’s rule.
|||Western Cape -
Cosatu president S’dumo Dlamini has called on all Western Cape members of the federation to support the ANC in this year’s national elections to end the DA’s rule in the Western Cape.
And he called for unity within the federation at a National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) shop steward council meeting on Tuesday.
Dlamini was joined by Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich, SACP provincial secretary Khaya Magaxa and ANC provincial secretary Songezo Mjongile. They presented a united front to gain support for the ANC and dispel lingering rumours of a lack of unity between the tripartite alliance and within the ranks of Cosatu.
“Cosatu’s position is to support the ANC,” said Dlamini. “The ANC is not our class enemy. The SACP is not our class enemy. These are our allies.”
He wanted people to have the same enthusiasm for the provincial elections as they had for the national poll.
“We are working very hard to campaign for the ANC, but why is it that we get more votes for one election and not the other election and the DA ends up winning? We all support the ANC at the national level but we think we have a choice at provincial level.
“We have to put differences aside. Vote for the ANC this election.”
Ehrenreich attacked the DA, accusing the party of catering only for the wealthy and ignoring the plight of the working class.
“They keep talking about their slogan ‘Better Together’, but they don’t come down to talk to our people, only to the wealthy. We need to turn around the DA’s undermining of workers.
“We need to undo the legacy of apartheid and swell the ranks of the ANC and build the vision of the ANC among all in our community.”
Ehrenreich said he was enraged by the inequality between the different races in the province, and focused on education and transport as key areas.
Dlamini also called for a unified Cosatu to back the ANC after much infighting since the suspension of general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and the breakaway by the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa). - Cape Argus
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