SOUTH AFRICA: BBG-Main Trade Union Federation Urges ANC Agreement w/DA

Bloomberg is reporting that the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the country's largest labour federation, is encouraging the governing African National Congress (ANC) to seek a deal with the liberal Democratic Alliance (DA) in order to remain in power. The article claims that according to an unnamed source, COSATU is pushing the ANC to seek a confidence-and-supply agreement with the DA that would see a minority gov't in place, but one backed on key votes by the DA. The DA would not hold ministerial offices, but would be provided senior parliamentary positions to allow for effective gov't scrutiny .

• Bloomberg: "Cosatu, which is usually opposed to any dealings with the DA and would favor a leftist alliance, is trying to be pragmatic given its concerns about other potential partners and the damage they could cause to both the ANC and the economy,"
• COSATU is not a formal part of gov't, but forms one branch of the 'Tripartite Alliance', alongside the ANC and the South African Communist Party. The alliance was formed in 1990 following Nelson Mandela's release from prison with the aim of ending apartheid. 
• The Bloomberg source claims COSATU is cold on working with the EFF due to past corruption scandals, opposition to President Cyril Ramaphosa, and threats to 'destroy' the ANC. It is a similar story with Jacob Zuma's MK party, with bitterness towards the party's role in the ANC losing its majority and "concerns about the integrity of the party’s leaders."