COSATU concerned some GNU partners don't share ANC's views on labour, transformation

CAPE TOWN - Trade union COSATU remains concerned that some of the partners in the Government of National Unity (GNU) don't share the African National Congress (ANC)'s policy views on labour and the transformation agenda. 

On Thursday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa will want to convince the nation in his Opening of Parliament Address that the ANC's new governing partners can bridge the divide. 

However, COSATU spokesperson, Matthew Parks, said that the union would be keeping a close watch on the delivery of these promises.

As the biggest party in the GNU, COSTAU said that the ANC's policy should remain the platform for government. 

But ultimately, Parks said that the federation would be watching this new government's performance. 

"What counts is can the government deliver? Can they fix the trains, can they fix electricity, can they fix the roads, can they fix corruption, can we see politicians go to prison when they misbehave?"

He said that getting the basics right may be complicated but not difficult to achieve. 

"We want to see them fixing the state, growing the economy, creating jobs - that’s the national threshold for us."

Parks said he hoped the new government settled down soon, to fill critical vacancies and to deal with issues of service delivery and crime.