The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has strongly advised the working class against voting for specific political parties in the upcoming elections.
NUMSA instructs ‘working class’ to avoid voting for these political parties
In a statement, NUMSA named the Democratic Alliance (DA), ActionSA, Freedom Front, Patriotic Alliance, Freedom Front Plus, Build One South Africa, Rise Mzansi, and ACDP as parties that the working class should avoid.
They also urged voters not to waste their votes on individual candidates, emphasizing the need for a collective approach to protect workers’ rights and interests.
How powerful is NUMSA?
NUMSA is one of the most influential trade unions in South Africa, with a significant membership base and substantial influence over the country’s labour market and industrial relations.
Formed in 1987, NUMSA represents workers in key economic sectors such as metalworking, automotive, and engineering.
With over 339,000 members as of 2014, it is the largest union in most national bargaining forums, except for Eskom.
The union’s power is evident through its militant stance on workers’ rights and its involvement in numerous strikes and industrial actions, which often lead to substantial disruptions.
For example, a recent strike led by NUMSA in the steel sector had significant economic repercussions, demonstrating the union’s capacity to influence labour conditions and broader economic stability.
Historically aligned with the African National Congress (ANC), NUMSA broke away in 2013, criticising the ANC for not adequately addressing workers’ issues.
This independence has allowed NUMSA to advocate more fiercely for labour rights.
What signs are there of an ANC-EFF coalition government?
Recent developments suggest a potential coalition between the ANC and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
Fitch International’s research arm, BMI Research, has highlighted the risks and implications of such a coalition.
Should the ANC’s vote share fall below 40% in the upcoming general elections, an alliance with the EFF could be a viable option.
This coalition could lead to a wider fiscal deficit, slower real GDP growth, and a weaker rand due to the EFF’s stance on increasing business regulation and union support.
During a pre-election discussion hosted by BMI Research, analysts predicted that while the ANC might lose its parliamentary majority, it would still wield significant influence over policy proposals.
They suggested that the ANC would likely form a coalition with smaller parties if it falls just short of a majority.
However, if the ANC’s support dips even further, an alliance with either the DA or EFF could significantly impact South Africa’s fiscal policy, foreign relations, economic growth, and currency.
In the immediate term, the announcement of an ANC-EFF coalition would likely result in a sharp fall of the rand against the dollar, deterring investors and exacerbating low-risk appetite.
Despite this, analysts expect the currency to recover most of these losses by the end of 2024, provided key economic policies remain unaltered and left-wing factions do not dominate the coalition.
