One of the country’s largest trade unions has commended the ANC for opting not to head into a coalition government with the Democratic Alliance.
The metal workers union Numsa said this after ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa revealed his party’s aim to form a government of national unity (GNU).
Numsa’s secretary-general, Irvin Jim, confirmed its stance. He said the ANC’s choice of the DA as a coalition partner would have been the ultimate betrayal of the working class.
This comes after the ANC lost majority control of the National Assembly for the first time in 30 years. Following the elections, there were several debates about possible coalition partners for the ANC to govern with.
On Thursday evening, Ramaphosa proposed a national unity government. A system that seeks to include all major political parties in the legislature. This includes hardline competitors. It means that parties will have authority over various ministerial positions.
DA coalition would have spelled disaster for the workers
Jim said had the ANC joined hands with the DA, people would continue to live in poverty. Underprivileged provinces would have been turned into ghost towns. These provinces are already suffering from government’s austerity measures.
“We were against the ANC and DA coalition. Because the level of crime, and all other social ills associated with it, were going to sky-rocket. We have no issues with the ANC entering into a coalition with the rest of other progressive political parties. All those parties that have won seats, [except] the DA,” said Jim.
He stated that their stance against the DA is in the interests of the working class and the impoverished.
Final nail in the coffin of the ANC
“The strategic and important task is to put together a government that is going to address the crisis of unemployment. Also address poverty and inequalities through an expansionary budget. With a particular focus on building infrastructure in order to stimulate demand.
“The coalition of the ANC and DA would not have been a light at the end of the tunnel. [It would have been] an oncoming train that will squash and liquidate the working class. Working with the DA would have [been] a final nail in the coffin of the ANC,” said Jim.
Numsa is a member of the trade union federation Saftu. It was expelled from the ANC’s tripartite alliance partner Cosatu in November 2014.
