The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) plans to form a shadow cabinet to monitor President Jacob Zuma's new administration, the Mail & Guardian reported on Friday.The trade union federation would establish an accountability structure that would oblige all its leftist leaders in Zuma's Cabinet and in the provincial and national parliaments to be accountable directly to Cosatu.
Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini told the publication these plans would top the agenda at their national congress in September.
Despite improved relations between the African National Congress and its alliance partners, Cosatu observed there had been little sign that the Zuma-led government was prepared to make the changes to macro-economic policies that it had been pushing for.
Dlamini said the congress would consider new strategies to put pressure on Zuma and the ANC to consider some of the left's policy proposals.
In what the publication called a "veiled attack" on Planning Commission Minister Trevor Manuel, Dlamini said Cosatu was aware that some in the "1996 class project" are trying hard to influence Zuma with the growth, employment and redistribution (Gear) policies introduced that year.
"We will follow the remnants of the 1996 class project, whether they are in the alliance or government," Dlamini said.
"By including them in his new Cabinet, Zuma gave them a second opportunity to behave. They should be loyal to the policies of the ANC.
"We know others want to be more influential and make outrageous statements [on policies]. I don't want to talk about individuals, but what I know is they will be dislodged," said Dlamini.
Although Cosatu respected that leaders of the left deployed in government had the responsibility to report to Zuma and the ANC, he also expected them to report to the new Cosatu accountability structure.
The structure would enable Cosatu to tighten accountability of those deployed to government.
It would also have the power to recommend to its central executive committee the recall of those who failed to pursue a working class agenda.
"We made serious mistakes in the past by deploying people in Parliament without them accounting to Cosatu. It's not going to happen this time around. Anyone who moves far away [from the left agenda] will be punished," said Dlamini.
Source : Sapa /jog/gj
Date : 26 Jun 2009 09:29
