Cosatu has come out strongly in support of members of its teacher union affiliate SADTU over allegations that their involvement in the running of elections helped keep the ANC in power.
Several political parties including the EFF, ATM and UDM have complained to the IEC that members of the union not be included in its electoral staff as it formally proclaimed support for the ruling party.
The federation briefed the media at its Braamfontein, Johan offices on Friday arguing SADTU members had a right to work the electoral body just like any other South African.
“SADTU members have every right to work for the IEC just like any other South African unless there’s a rule that if you belong to an organisation that has ties with a political party you can’t form part of those working for the IEC at VDs,” said Cosatu President Zingisa Losi.
Losi singled out the EFF as being behind criticism of SADTU.
“We must defend SADTU members as citizens of South Africa to work for the IEC. It must not be about SADTU. We must not go with this narrative of the EFF and I think the media must help us here because its the EFF that is isolating SADTU. Even ourselves we should perhaps ask the IEC if the inclusion of SADTU members is a threat to free and fair elections,” said Losi.
She suggested that those complaining about SADTU were doing so as part of excuses for their lack of popularity with the electorate.
“I remember in the last elections, I think it was 2016 there was a man who formed a political party and said he left home with four of his family members but got only one vote at his vd. He wanted South Africans to explain what happened to his four votes. It means even his own family members didn’t vote for him, his own family did not trust him to run South Africa, not even a small municipality or ward so should such be blamed on SADTU members when your own family doesn’t vote for you,” said Losi in reference to former SABC boss and now leader of the African Content Movement Hlaudi Motsoeneng who while disputing the outcome of the 2021 local government elections claimed a dozen or so family members had voted for him but the IEC officials only allocated him one vote.