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23 August, 2000Numsa says that despite growing tension among tripartite alliance partners, particularly on labour issues, its members are willing to give the ANC "another chance" to lead the alliance.
SOUTH AFRICA: Ever since the 1994 elections in South Africa, when the ANC came to power, Numsa has been debating its relationship with the new democratic government. The strategic decision made by the government to develop an open market economy has not always been popular among workers.
The IMF general secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, who has taken part in the Numsa Congress in Mafeking, says: "The price the workers have had to pay has been high. Unemployment has increased and many workers have lost their jobs because of retrenchments. Numsa has lost more than 50,000 members because of this. But many good things have been developed as well. And there is no alternative to this government for the workers of South Africa."
The debate initiated by the two-hour-long speech of the ANC general secretary ended with a decision to continue support for the ANC and the present government despite increasing tension.
This decision follows a proposal by the union's rank-and-file members that the ANC be removed from its leadership position and be replaced by the SA Communist Party.
Numsa is an affiliate of the Congress of S.A. Trade Unions (Cosatu), the third member of the alliance.
The IMF general secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, who has taken part in the Numsa Congress in Mafeking, says: "The price the workers have had to pay has been high. Unemployment has increased and many workers have lost their jobs because of retrenchments. Numsa has lost more than 50,000 members because of this. But many good things have been developed as well. And there is no alternative to this government for the workers of South Africa."
The debate initiated by the two-hour-long speech of the ANC general secretary ended with a decision to continue support for the ANC and the present government despite increasing tension.
This decision follows a proposal by the union's rank-and-file members that the ANC be removed from its leadership position and be replaced by the SA Communist Party.
Numsa is an affiliate of the Congress of S.A. Trade Unions (Cosatu), the third member of the alliance.