The African National Congress (ANC) has rejected claims that it has turned its back on workers or strayed from its revolutionary roots, with First Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane mounting a firm defence of the party’s record.
Mokonyane addressed thousands at the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) Workers’ Day celebrations in Durban, where alliance partners renewed calls for a reconfiguration that prioritises workers’ interests.
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The South African Communist Party (SACP), alongside Cosatu, reiterated demands for a shift in the alliance’s structure, arguing that workers must take centre stage in policy direction.
Calls For Alliance Reconfiguration Put Workers At The Centre
The debate over the future of the tripartite alliance comes at a time of heightened political tension, particularly within the Government of National Unity (GNU).
One of the early flashpoints has been the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI), which has divided opinion among coalition partners.
Although Cyril Ramaphosa recently indicated that the rollout of the NHI has been paused, questions remain about the policy’s future trajectory.
Mokonyane Says NHI Foundations Still Being Built
Despite the pause, Mokonyane insisted that progress towards universal healthcare continues behind the scenes, pointing to ongoing investments in public health infrastructure.
“The very fact that there’s free access to public health is a building block to NHI. The very fact that we’re now investing in primary health care, building community health centres, taking imitholampilo (clinics) to the people like here in KwaZulu-Natal, those are the building blocks to the NHI.”
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Her remarks position current healthcare initiatives as part of a broader, long-term strategy to realise the NHI, even as political debates over its implementation persist.
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