Mokonyane says ANC never sold out workers and revolution

ANC's Nomvula Mokonyane was speaking at Cosatu's Workers Day celebrations in Durban.

May 2, 2026 - 08:56

Mokonyane says ANC never sold out workers and revolution

African National Congress (ANC) first Deputy Secretary General, Nomvula Mokonyane, has defended the party, saying that it never sold out the workers and the revolution.

She was speaking at the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) Workers’ Day celebration in Durban, where the trade union federation and the South African Communist Party (SACP) called for a reconfiguration of the alliance, putting workers first.

National Health Insurance (NHI) was one of the first issues to cause friction in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

Despite President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that the implementation of the NHI has been put on hold, Mokonyane says laying the groundwork hasn’t stopped.

“The very fact that there’s free access to public health is a building block to NHI. The very fact that we’re now investing in primary health care, building community health centres, taking imitholampilo (clinics) to the people like here in KwaZulu-Natal, those are the building blocks to the NHI.”

ANC 1st Deputy Secretary-General Cde Nomvula Mokonyane delivered a message of support as thousands of workers gathered to commemorate this historic day, affirming the enduring bond between the ANC and the working class.#COSATUMayDayRally #MayDay2026 pic.twitter.com/OZe6Cr9681

— ANC – African National Congress (@MYANC) May 1, 2026