The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Tuesday reaffirmed its support for the three economic cluster ministers after reports of a debate raging in the ANC about "minorities" holding key positions.

Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said the federation was confident that Economic Policy Minister Ebrahim Patel, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan would advance the "class struggle" in South Africa.

"The President could not have made a better choice," Craven said.

"We are fully confident that they will advance the NDR (national democratic revolution), particularly its class struggle component."

Last week, African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema criticised President Jacob Zuma's appointment of "minorities" to strategic economic positions.

ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe was reported to have "angrily" defended Zuma's appointments at the party's working committee last Monday.

Craven said the ministers were fully committed to "the progressive policies of Polokwane and the ANC manifesto", on issues such as creating "decent" jobs, eliminating poverty and reducing inequality.

"Cosatu welcomes the important debate initiated by the ANC Youth League around the racial composition of the ministers in the economic policy cluster.

"The federation agrees with the Youth League that the national question remains important in South Africa.

"However, the class and gender aspect of the national liberation struggle are of equal importance.

"The struggle on all three fronts has always been at the heart of the national democratic revolutionary struggle and no one of the three is more of a priority than the others."

The presidency on Tuesday pointed out that it was incorrect to view the economics cluster as comprising only three ministries — those headed by Gordhan, Patel and Davies.

It said it in fact also includes the ministries of agriculture and fisheries, communications, co-operative governance and traditional affairs, energy, higher education and training, human settlements, international relations and cooperation, labour, public enterprises, public works, rural development and land reform, science and technology, tourism and water and environmental affairs as well as the ministers in the presidency responsible for planning and monitoring and evaluation.

Sapa

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