South African President Cyril Ramaphosa received significant political backing from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) ahead of the 2019 general elections, despite unresolved disputes over labor rights and economic reforms.
Cosatu, representing 1.5 million workers, reversed earlier threats to penalize the African National Congress (ANC) over its handling of tripartite alliance decisions. The labor federation's central executive committee confirmed continued support for Ramaphosa, though it emphasized willingness to challenge his policies affecting workers.
The shift followed months of tension, including Cosatu's criticism of Ramaphosa's plan to restructure state-owned power utility Eskom into three separate entities. The move risked job losses and sparked warnings from union leaders about potential adverse impacts on labor.
Despite the alliance's public unity, internal disagreements persist. Cosatu deputy secretary-general Solly Phetoe stated, "Our support for Cyril does not mean we are going to agree with everything he says that is disadvantaging workers." The federation had previously urged the ANC to incorporate tripartite partners in key decision-making processes.
Relations between the ANC and Cosatu deteriorated during Jacob Zuma's presidency, when major policy decisions were made without consultation. Current tensions reflect ongoing debates about the alliance's future direction as Ramaphosa faces competition from the Economic Freedom Fighters and Democratic Alliance in the May 8 polls.
