Shingange urges internal unity in COSATU to regain workers’ trust

Newly elected COSATU President Mike Shingange says the trade union federation must prioritise internal unity if it hopes to regain workers’ trust. ​Shingange was delivering his inaugural address on the final day of the reconvened 15th COSATU National Congress in Kempton Park, east of Johannesburg. ​The new top leadership structure will guide the federation for the next four years.

Joining Shingange in the Presidency are Susan Khumalo as First Deputy President and Mbali Blose as Second Deputy President. ​Zingiswa Losi takes up the role of General-Secretary with Gerald Twala serving as Deputy General Secretary. ​Addressing delegates, Shingange emphasised that strengthening the Tripartite Alliance requires real commitment and called for an end to opportunistic partnerships.

“We must do something about ourselves, first and foremost, because I don’t think God will assist or will succeed in helping us to lead the unification of the alliance that has been fragmenting for many decades now.

And comrades, our alliance must not be a by-the-way.

It must not be a tactical alliance when we need it and when we don’t need it.

The alliance partners, particularly these workers, must not be treated like a pipe of water which you open when you need to drink and close when you don’t need it,” says Shingange.

Reconvened COSATU’s 15th National Congress enters day 3: