Nov 15, 2009
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African trade union federation COSATU has proposed that the alliance of the ruling ANC, Communist Party and itself replace the ANC as the main centre of political power, newspapers reported on Sunday.

The move would shift power away from the party, giving the left wing greater influence by making all three partners -- not just the ANC -- responsible for setting government policy. Such a change, if it happened, could unsettle foreign investors.

COSATU and the South African Communist Party (SACP) have been allied with the ANC since before it won the country's first all-race election in 1994, but the party has always been the senior partner.

The proposal was made at an alliance summit that started on Friday, aimed at ironing out differences between its members.

COSATU and the SACP have gained influence since they helped Jacob Zuma rise to lead the ANC and become South African president. They are pushing for a more left-wing economic policy, including higher spending, and for the inflation targets that guide monetary policy to be scrapped.

The Sunday Times said ANC members had opposed the change, but added delegates at the summit held separate meetings to discuss the plan.

A unnamed senior ANC leader accused the party's secretary-general Gwede Mantashe of trying "to kill the identity of the ANC".

"That will not happen, We are at the summit to defend the ANC. Moreover the ANC leads the alliance and (that's) not what COSATU wants," the newspaper quoted the delegate as saying.

Mantashe is also chairman of the SACP.