Political Resolutions of the COSATU 9th National Congress, 18-21 September 2006

1-1 The Alliance

This Ninth National Congress notes:

1. Past COSATU resolutions on the Alliance.
2. A lack of democratic participation exists at all levels, with COSATU, the SACP and even to some extent the ANC itself sidelined from policy development due to the levels of centralisation of power and authority in the office of the Presidency, which has been a driver of policy development. This situation goes hand in hand with the dominant influence of big business on the policy direction of our country and the marginalisation of representative institutions from decision-making.
3. There are continuous tensions amongst the Alliance partners due to lack of consultation, lack of tolerance amongst comrades holding high positions in the Alliance partners, lack of trust amongst leadership of the Alliance partners, etc.
4. There is no alternative political organisation with the mass support of the ANC, which remains the only political party capable of fighting for a non-racial, non-sexist and free democratic society in South Africa. The ANC is however a contested terrain that is lobbied by different strata in our society. This has caused conflict within the ANC and the Alliance and a shift from the ANC’s earlier working-class bias as adopted in its Morogoro Congress of 1969.

Believing:

1. The Tripartite Alliance was strategically entered into as a revolutionary vehicle to take forward the objectives of our revolution.
2. Through comradely debates, not bureaucratic suppression of debate, and properly structured processes for arriving at consensus and unity, the proper mode of functioning of the Alliance can be renewed with a focus on the strategic challenges facing our revolution.

Therefore this Ninth National Congress resolves:

1. To pursue the following principles that should guide the functioning of the Alliance:

a. While led by the ANC, the partners should recognise one another’s independence in the Alliance and accord each one equal status;
b. Work for mutual benefits in which there is respect and recognition of the role of each component of the Alliance while forging maximum unity;
c. Strengthen one another’s formations, including providing time and resources for organisational building of the Alliance;
d. Manage the tensions in the Alliance by consulting one another through meeting regularly and hammering out the issues; and
e. Promote debate and discussion within the Alliance through democratic participation of the components of the Alliance and strive to resolve such debates through discussion and consensus.

2. The programme of action agreed upon in the Ekurhuleni 2 Summit must be implemented, and in particular:

a. The Alliance must co-ordinate its activities and provide leadership to social transformation in all spheres of society, including civil society and the state;
b. The process of policy development and its implementation should be informed on an on-going basis by a collective endeavour;
c. In order to carry its programmes and maintain unity going forward, the Alliance Secretariat should meet every two weeks to co-ordinate and implement agreed-upon programmes and address other issues that may arise from time to time;
d. The Alliance ten-a-side, which is meant to address policy matters of importance, should meet quarterly for a full day to consider matters advanced by the Secretariat of the Alliance;
e. The Alliance as agreed upon must be convened to develop a longer-term programme of the Alliance on the specific questions that were canvassed in the recent bilaterals between COSATU and the ANC;
f. The structure of the Alliance must be reviewed so that all the partners will play a meaningful role in pursuit of the National Democratic Revolution in all battles of the struggle for both national and social liberation.

3. The interactions of the Alliance should be led by all Alliance partners’ leadership, in particular the top six leaders of each Alliance component.
4. The political centre must be properly defined and constituted as a representative force of the Alliance capable of executing the tasks set by the National Democratic Revolution.
5. The structure of the Alliance must be reviewed such that all the partners will play a meaningful role in the pursuit of the National Democratic Revolution in all battles of the struggle for both national and social liberation.
6. There should be thorough preparation for the transition programme from capitalism to socialism. The radical character of the National Democratic Revolution remains high on the agenda of the working class and must become the guiding force for a coherent Alliance programme aimed at eliminating all forms of inequality.
7. To initiate a debate within the Alliance in the build-up to the 2007 ANC conference and SACP 11th Congress around the restructuring of the Alliance to make it an effective tool for social transformation. This debate should include the following:

a. Combating centralisation and patronage;
b. Confronting and debating ideological differences within the Alliance;
c. Confronting and debating growing class contradictions within the ANC, including the current accumulation path, which is creating a black bourgeoisie, and the need to maintain a pro-working-class, pro-poor agenda and leadership within the ANC and the Alliance;
d. Strengthening the independent programmes of the Alliance partners, e.g. debates about the SACP putting forward candidates should not be seen in opposition to the Alliance strategy;
e. The need for a more structured “pact” between the parties, with conditions and agreed minimum goals. This should include agreements on deployments and quotas for representation of the different Alliance partners at every level, with independent caucuses and the power of recall to ensure accountability.

8. An Alliance-led deployment committee should oversee the whole process of deployment.
9. Mutual respect should be observed between all members of the alliance.
10. Sufficient time should be given to engage on crucial matters for consideration. This will lead to less tension between the partners of the Alliance.
11. In the event the SACP decides to contest the next elections, COSATU should call a special Central Committee to consider the Federation’s position.