The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has described its May Day rallies across the country as a success.
Image: COSATU
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has declared its May Day rallies a significant success, despite challenging weather conditions across the country and reports of poor crowd attendance.
Critics have suggested that there is a growing disconnection between union leaders and the working class they aim to serve.
Cosatu hosted its main May Day rally at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Limpopo on Friday, alongside its alliance partners the ANC, SACP, and the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco).
The rally was addressed by Cosatu President Zingiswa Losi, who had strong words for employers who continue with retrenchments in the current economic climate, saying they must be condemned as continued job losses have resulted in deepening inequality.
As the country approaches the local government elections in November, Losi further called for the government to declare the scourge of unemployment as a national emergency, calling for urgent intervention to protect workers and stimulate job creation.
“We are heading to the most contested elections in our country since the dawn of democracy.... What hope does a matriculant in Phalaborwa, or the disabled bus driver in Makhado have when jobs are scarce? We must therefore condemn those employers, both in the private and the public sector, "she stated.
Cosatu spokesperson Zanele Sabela said that turnout at the rallies was robust.
"Attendance was healthy with most of the stands filled across 13 stadiums in all nine provinces. This is despite the onset of winter and heavy rains in many of the provinces. It was in spite of it being a long weekend when many workers travelled home to rural areas. No other federation could pull off this feat," Sabela said.
The May Day rallies come hot on the heels of yet another poor crowd turnout on Freedom Day, when President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his address at the Dr Rantlai Molemela stadium, Bloemfontein.
Political analyst Thobani Zikalala, said the tripartite alliance was struggling with a real and strong relationship with the working class.
"I think the post-democratic South Africa is unraveling before our eyes. It is exposing itself around the working-class. Slowly, the working class is waking up to the reality that there's not much for them in this democracy at the level of development, as South Africa continues to be the most unequal society in the world, with rising unemployment levels," said Zikalala.
Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast, Acting Director of the Center for Security, Peace and Conflict Resolution at Nelson Mandela University, said the continued tensions within the tripartite alliance following the decision by the SACP to contest the upcoming elections independently from the ANC, could be a reason for the waning support.
"Rallies are planned months in advance, and to see such a poor showing in terms of the crowds, I am inclined to say there is a lack of trust between citizens and the tripartite alliance due to the slow pace of service delivery and other challenges."
siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za