SA's hard-won democracy shouldn't be 'playground for thieving' politicians: COSATU's Losi

JOHANNESBURG  - The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) says gains made in the fight for democracy cannot be lost to career politicians with little interest in service delivery and entrepreneurs in business with government for a quick buck.

The warning follows what the trade union federation says is an honest assessment of governance as the country marked Workers’ Day on Thursday.

While strides have been made to ensure fair labour practices, equity, improved wages and safer working environments, COSATU has called on the government to address threats to public institutions.

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Representing almost two million public servants, COSATU says weakened public institutions leave workers exposed.

COSATU leader Zingiswa Losi says one of the threats is corruption.

“We are very clear as COSATU, that we did not wage a struggle for us to see the democratic state become the playground yamasela (thieves).”

The word amasela means thieves and has for years been used to describe and condemn those in power who have unduly benefited from state resources at the expense of South Africans.

“The control of the state is its machinery to eliminate, to eliminate unemployment and inequality, and not to elevate tenderpreneur.”

Losi says clean governance is needed to ensure labour rights are protected and labour reforms are fast-tracked.