JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is preparing to make a definitive choice on whether to endorse the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party (SACP), or a combined approach ahead of the November 2026 local government elections. According to COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator Matthew Parks, the federation’s upcoming congress in two weeks will serve as the deciding forum, as the labor movement navigates escalating friction within the historic tripartite alliance.
The political landscape has grown increasingly complex following the SACP’s reaffirmed intention to independently contest municipal polls. This move has reportedly prompted the ANC to issue ultimatums regarding campaign loyalties, placing COSATU in a highly sensitive position. Parks described the federation as the “child” of the alliance, noting that when its founding partners clash, the labor movement bears the brunt of the fallout.
Despite maintaining a long-standing resolution to back the ANC as the leader of the alliance, Parks stressed that this year’s review is far from a mere formality. Over the past year, COSATU has tasked its affiliates with gathering direct mandates from their memberships. The feedback has been mixed: some unions have instructed their delegates to support the ANC, while others have mandated support for the SACP.
Parks emphasized that this critical decision will not be made by the central executive committee or individual leaders. Instead, the congress delegates will debate the mandates and determine the federation’s official line of march. Potential outcomes include maintaining the status quo, shifting support to the SACP, or forging a unified strategy that backs both organizations.
Regardless of the final resolution, Parks affirmed that COSATU intends to remain a loyal ally to both parties and continue acting as a mediator. The federation has actively pushed for joint engagements to reconfigure the alliance for a post-majority political era, though efforts to get all partners to the negotiating table have faced significant hurdles.
Addressing the underlying fault lines, Parks acknowledged that friction has been compounded by unhappiness within the alliance over the inclusion of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) in the Government of National Unity (GNU). While COSATU historically preferred an ANC majority, the federation has adapted to the realities of a coalition era. Parks pointed to COSATU’s pragmatic track record of advancing worker interests through opposition-drafted legislation, such as parental maternity leave laws originally championed by the ACDP and amendments to the PIC act that began as a DA bill.
Ultimately, Parks argued that the alliance’s survival depends on addressing the severe socioeconomic crises facing ordinary South Africans. He highlighted a 43 percent unemployment rate—with youth demographics hit hardest—alongside escalating township crime and deteriorating municipal services. He noted that recent declines in voter turnout are largely driven by a loss of hope among traditional ANC voters, rather than mass defections to rival parties. Delivering tangible governance improvements, he argued, is the fastest way to rebuild public confidence.
As the congress approaches, Parks reiterated that the unity of the labor movement is sacrosanct. Major affiliates across the federation have consistently stressed that political disagreements must not fracture the workforce.
“Unemployment does not care what the color of your political party t-shirt is,” Parks stated, underscoring that the federation’s greatest strength lies in its solidarity. While COSATU will advocate for a mutually acceptable resolution at the congress, Parks also acknowledged the reality of a robust democracy: when workers step into the voting booth, they do so as individuals, making their own sovereign choices at the ballot box.
