Tripartite Alliance Unites to Address Working-Class Challenges in 2025

The Tripartite Alliance – comprising the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party (SACP), and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) – has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the pressing challenges faced by the working class in South Africa. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

(The Post News)- As the clock strikes midnight, ushering in the new year, the Tripartite Alliance – comprising the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party (SACP), and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) – has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the pressing challenges faced by the working class in South Africa.

In a statement, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula reflected on the past year, highlighting the party’s efforts to prioritize issues such as trade relations, improving governance, reducing the backlog, and enacting transformative legislation. Despite the challenges faced in 2024, Mbalula emphasized that the ANC has listened to the concerns of the people and is committed to building a better future for all South Africans.

Mbalula’s sentiments were echoed by the SACP, which stressed the need for continued efforts to push for solutions to the challenges faced by the working class. The party’s national spokesperson, Dr. Alex Mashilo, noted that the working class is struggling to make ends meet and called for a united front in seeking solutions to these challenges.

COSATU, the third member of the Tripartite Alliance, also weighed in on the importance of fighting for the advancement of the working-class agenda in 2025. Solly Phetoe, General Secretary of COSATU, urged workers to prepare for the fight ahead, emphasizing the need to advance the working-class agenda and improve the conditions of service and conditions of workers in South Africa.

The Tripartite Alliance’s renewed commitment to addressing working-class challenges is a welcome development, given the country’s persistent socio-economic challenges. As the alliance embarks on this critical journey, it is essential to acknowledge the historical context that has shaped the relationship between the ANC, SACP, and COSATU.

Formed in 1990, the Tripartite Alliance was forged in the midst of South Africa’s transition to democracy. The alliance brought together three distinct organizations, each with its own unique history and ideology. The ANC, founded in 1912, is the oldest liberation movement in South Africa. The SACP, established in 1921, is one of the oldest communist parties in Africa. COSATU, formed in 1985, is the largest trade union federation in South Africa.

Throughout the years, the Tripartite Alliance has played a crucial role in shaping South Africa’s political landscape. The alliance has been instrumental in advancing the interests of the working class, promoting social justice, and fighting against inequality.

As the Tripartite Alliance embarks on its mission to address working-class challenges in 2025, it is essential to recognize the significance of this alliance in South African politics. The alliance represents a unique experiment in democratic governance, where three distinct organizations have come together to advance a shared vision of social justice and equality.