Glenda Daniels
Unionists voiced frustration, and warned of heightened tensions in the tripartite alliance, after it emerged this week that the 18-a-side tripartite alliance summit has been delayed yet again.
The meeting, designed to address the rift over privatisation and macroeconomic policy between the ruling African National Congress on the one hand, and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Communist Party on the other, was originally set for September. It was then moved to October, but is now likely to take place as late as November.
It was also unclear this week whether privatisation will top the meeting’s agenda, or if it is up for discussion at all. Said the ANC’s Nomfanelo Mayosi-Kota: “The alliance meeting was postponed to reorientate the agenda. We can’t say whether privatisation is on it.”
The SACP’s Phillip Dexter confirmed this. “One of the issues at the alliance summit might well be privatisation. If it is, it won’t be the only item.”
Unionists expressed frustration over the delay. Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said Cosatu was determined that privatisation would top the meeting’s agenda.
“Cosatu is very keen to have this meeting as a matter of urgency,” said a unionist close to preparations for the meeting. “Delays send out a bad message to the country and the current uncertainty merely heightens tensions.”
The union source said privatisation could not be marginalised as an issue. “It’s critical for the country that this gets discussed as soon as possible.”
On Tuesday Cosatu held a central executive committee meeting to discuss how to engage the ANC and the government in the wake of the anti-privatisation strike.
In a briefing in Cape Town this week Minister of Public Enterprises Jeff Radebe made it clear that the government intended pressing ahead with its privatisation schedule.
He confirmed Telkom would be listed this financial year and the state’s M-Cell shares would be sold, subject to market conditions.
The listing of South African Airways was scheduled for next year, and the implementation of generation, transmission and distribution of energy as wholly owned subsidiaries of Eskom would take place from 2002 to 2003.
The one hint of a government retreat was Radebe’s cautious remark that plans to revamp Spoornet would be “refined” in negotiations with Spoornet. The Mail & Guardian reported last week that the plan to concession the Orex ore link is set to be abandoned because of its potentially damaging effect on Spoornet’s general freight business.
The government’s concessions on Spoornet were “highly significant and an indication of what can happen through meaningful engagement. Pressure in this case was successfully exerted,” said Cosatu’s parliamentary coordinator Neil Coleman.
In response to Radebe, Vavi said: “We will continue to oppose the privatisation policies the government is pushing.”
The ANC national executive committee will meet on September 28 to discuss a precise date in November, and an agenda, for the alliance summit.