Cosatu general secretary Solly Phetoe
By Johnathan Paoli
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has accused the United States, Israel and local right-wing groups of mounting diplomatic and economic pressure on South Africa over policies aimed at addressing apartheid-era inequality.
Cosatu general secretary Solly Phetoe made the claims in a statement marking the 81st anniversary of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), in which he called for greater international working-class solidarity.
“The 81st anniversary of the WFTU takes place at a time when our own country, South Africa, is under siege,” Phetoe said.
“US imperialism in alliance with apartheid Israel have declared diplomatic and economic warfare against our country for advancing progressive laws to redistribute land to the historically oppressed black majority.”
His comments come amid strained relations between Pretoria and Washington, including disagreements over South Africa’s domestic transformation policies and its foreign policy.
Phetoe also accused AfriForum and other groups on the political right of resisting measures aimed at addressing inequality.
“The racist alliance, in collaboration with local apartheid vestiges Afriforum are campaigning to keep apartheid inequalities and the black majority in permanent poverty,” he said.
Cosatu cited the Expropriation Act, National Health Insurance (NHI) and Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA) among policies it has supported as part of efforts to transform South Africa’s economy, healthcare and education systems.
Phetoe said these measures had faced sustained opposition.
“We have seen vicious resistance by right-wing forces organised along the lines of MAGA (Make Apartheid Great Again) desperate to roll back our democratic gains,” he said.
Cosatu said it would continue defending what it described as the democratic and social gains made since apartheid.
“Our common history and rich struggles are sealed with the blood of our martyrs, who fought gallantly against apartheid and gave birth to COSATU during the most difficult years of banning, exiling, arrests and killings of our leaders,” Phetoe said.
“This is why we will not retreat an inch from defending our democratic and revolutionary gains.”
The federation also used the WFTU anniversary to place South Africa’s political and economic challenges within what it described as a broader struggle against imperialism in Africa and the Global South.
Phetoe referred to conflicts in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo and accused France of imperialist intervention in parts of the Sahel, North Africa and West Africa.
“The source of our problems is the same; it is imperialism,” he said.
Cosatu said workers across Africa continued to bear a disproportionate burden of unemployment, poverty, hunger, disease and gender-based violence.
Phetoe also addressed South Africa’s gender-based violence and femicide crisis.
“COSATU condemns GBVF and all forms of violence, harassment and abuse of women. It is the primary duty of the working class to defend women and children from all and any form of abuse, criminality and violence,” he said.
The federation reaffirmed its solidarity with Palestinians and with people in Eswatini, Venezuela and Western Sahara, and reiterated its support for Cuba in opposition to US sanctions.
Phetoe said international mobilisation should ultimately translate into stronger trade union organisation.
“The question before COSATU is not simply whether we can mobilise workers for one day, the deeper question is if we can convert mobilisation into organisation, organisation into consciousness, consciousness into collective action, collective action into a strong federation,” he said.
The WFTU was established in Paris on October 3, 1945, following the Second World War, bringing together trade unions from dozens of countries. Its own historical records say its founding congress included representatives of 56 national organisations from 55 countries.
Cosatu said it remained committed to the WFTU’s “militant, class-oriented international trade union movement” and called for greater solidarity among workers internationally.
Source: https://insidepolitic.co.za/cosatu-says-south-africa-under-siege-as-it-marks-wftu-anniversary/