14 March 2024

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) launched its Elijah Barayi Elections Brigade today at the Playhouse in Durban under the rallying call of “Building a Strong and United COSATU in Mobilizing for the ANC Electoral Victory”.

We are heartened by the overwhelming turnout and palpable excitement of thousands of shop stewards and ordinary workers who came from all Affiliates of the Federation to pledge their time and resources to campaign day and night over the next two and a half months to secure an outright majority for our ally, the African National Congress nationally and across all provinces.

COSATU and its Affiliates have pledged their support for the ANC and will be engaging members and workers across workplaces over the course of this election season.  We are building upon the excellent work already done meeting and mobilising workers in January for the ANC Anniversary rally not only in Mbombela but in all 9 provinces as well as the massive turnout we saw in the build up for and at the Manifesto Launch itself at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

The Federation has put in place its elections machinery involving all of its Affiliates nationally, provincially and locally.  An elections programme has been put in is being rolled out and monitored on a daily basis.

We will be hosting the traditional Workers’ Day rallies across all provinces with the national event at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town where President Cyril Ramaphosa will join the leadership of COSATU.  Similar high-profile events will take place in Johannesburg, eThekwini, Secunda, Umthatha, Phuthathidthjaba, Barkley West, Mokopone, Rustenburg amongst others.

The membership and leadership of COSATU and its Affiliates are crisscrossing the nation, cities, towns, mines, shopping centres, factories, offices, municipalities, departments, farms and villages engaging workers on their daily challenges, hopes and ideas, on why it is important that they vote and vote for the ANC.  We are enthused by the warm reception members and workers are showing and humbled by the trust they have placed in COSATU and the ANC. 

Issued by COSATU

For further information please contact:
Matthew Parks
Acting National Spokesperson & Parliamentary Coordinator
Cell: 082 785 0687