Cosatu has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet reshuffle with some reservations.
The labour federation had previously complained about lack of consultation by former president Jacob Zuma when changing cabinet.
It says President Ramaphosa should also improve his way of engaging alliance partners on such matters.
Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini says they were only informed hours before the changes were effected. He says that is not the type of consultation wanted by alliance partners.
He says: “We would expect it to be more improved, because its not about telling us what he has decided, but its also what are the principles behind certain decisions – and contribution that alliance partners can make.”
“We hope that we will improve going forward on this type of consultation,” adds Dlamini.
Meanwhile the South African Communist Party (SACP) says it’s glad that the ANC has heeded its long-standing call for a radical restructuring of the cabinet.
SACP spokesperson, Alex Mashilo says they were consulted before the President took his final decisions.
Mashilo says what is left now is a reconfiguration of the whole alliance.
He says: “We are happy about the consultation process that took place, because that marks a radical departure. Firstly from the error where we just see cabinet announced at night while we are sleeping without consultation…. Not least with the alliance, but also particularly the ANC itself.”
“You will remember last year in March, at least three of ANC national officials came out to say the ANC itself was not consulted,” adds Mashilo.
