The National Allied Health and Workers’ Union (Nehawu) says it supports the decision of the South African Communist Party (SACP) decision to contest next year’s local government elections outside the tripartite alliance.

Nehawu’s first Deputy Secretary-General, Mavuso December, was speaking on the issue at the Kees Taaljaard Stadium ahead of the Workers’ Day celebrations.

The union says that the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) on the other hand is yet to decide whether or not to support the SACP’s decision.

Nehawu is affiliated to Cosatu.

Meanwhile, the Presidency has confirmed that President Cyril Ramaphosa will be among the speakers at Cosatu’s Workers’ Day rally.

The labour federation says workers are facing many socio-economic challenges. 

These include retrenchments, austerity budgets and privatisation of state services, poverty, high cost of living and the scourge of gender-based violence.

VIDEO | Workers’ Day – Job cuts, austerity and tariffs a threat to workers: