Ramaphosa’s re-election will enable ‘an atmosphere of economic stability’

Lauding President Cyril Ramaphosa’s resounding re-election as party leader at the ANC 55th national elective conference, business yesterday said South Africa should expect much higher levels of political stability than experienced over the past two years – enabling an atmosphere of economic stability.

In what has confounded critics and detractors within the ANC, delegates to the conference – the party’s highest decision-making organ – gave Ramaphosa a sizable second-term vote of 2 576 against rival Dr Zweli Mkhize’s 1 897.

Added to Ramaphosa’s victory has been the voting to strategic positions of his political allies Gwede Mantashe (chair), Fikile Mbalula (secretary-general) and Dr Gwen Ramokgopa (treasurer-general).

In his reaction to the ANC election outcome, Business for South Africa chair Martin Kingston said the incoming leadership “should enable us to build on existing policies – accelerating the implementation and giving greater confidence to the markets”.

Stability and predictability

He added: “Markets prefer stability and predictability – coupled with a commitment to structural reform that enables long-term investment to flow and supporting inclusive, sustainable growth.

“Had he been defeated at the ANC conference, business would have had to reassess the party’s commitment to government policies.”

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Cosatu general secretary Solly Phetoe said the union federation needed “an ANC leadership that will unite the organisation on the renewal programme and a continuation of a policy aimed at advancing the agenda of workers and the working class”.

He added: “The ANC leadership should unite the alliance with a clear programme of resolving the public sector wage dispute.”

With many people watching Ramaphosa’s performance during his second-term, Cosatu – in a message to the ANC conference – was unequivocal on the federation’s concern about the state of the party, which is marked by factionalism and jostling for power at the expense of service delivery.

While the ANC delivered on some fronts – the defeat of apartheid regime, drafting of one of the most progressive constitutions, to passing of progressive labour laws – the party was still battling the scourge of factionalism.

“We are ashamed by the behaviour of senior leaders, taking to social media to insult their own organisation and leaders,” said Cosatu.

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“We cannot be proud to read every week about a minister, MEC and mayor who has stolen. Workers are angry the ANC fails to pay its own staff – for years not bothered to give their staff an increase to protect their wages from inflation.

“As a trade union movement, we will not keep quiet when our [tripartite] alliance partners fail to respect our labour laws.

“Workers must be respected by our alliance partners and not treated like glorified slaves. If the ANC is to be restored to its glory – to fulfil its mandate, renewal must be intensified.

“No sober person will take us seriously if our leadership is populated by persons convicted or charged with serious crimes. Leadership is not a birth right.”

ANC must fix economy

Cosatu called on the ANC to be “serious about fixing our economy, reducing unemployment, tackling corruption and rebuilding a developmental state”.

The federation added: “What must guide us at all times is a 43% unemployment rate, record levels of poverty and inequality, rampant corruption, wasteful expenditure – and a state eroded by corruption and austerity budget cuts. Government, working with Cosatu at Nedlac, oversaw the release of over R64 billion from the UIF to help workers who lost wages during the Covid lockdown.”

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– brians@citizen.co.za