The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said it expected the new Gauteng cabinet to support workers' rights and work hard to bring about change.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced his 10-member Cabinet on Wednesday.
Lesufi allocated the MEC post to seven members of his own party, the African National Congress (ANC), and one each to the Patriotic Union, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and RISE Mzansi.
“We expect the ANC to negotiate with the federation on the plan of action and we expect them to negotiate with all MECs, including the PA MEC and RISE Mzansi, and negotiate on a fair basis,” Gauteng Cosatu chairperson Amos Monyela said.
“We are going to invite them to Cosatu House to come and speak and tell us what they are going to do for the people and workers of Gauteng so that we can handle whatever happens. If there are any MECs who do not want to engage with Cosatu, rest assured, we will make sure Cosatu explains,” Monyela added.
DA will not join Gauteng government: Helen Zille
Meanwhile, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi on Thursday denied the Democratic Alliance (DA) claim that the ANC had blatantly refused to consider adding more cabinet seats.
Lesufi said the DA had initially accepted up to three of the 10 cabinet posts but later reversed course and said it wanted five.
However, talks between the two parties to form a government stalled, and the DA did not join the executive branch of the Gauteng Government of Unity (GPU) and withdrew from the coalition government.
Lesufi said it was disappointing that no agreement could ultimately be reached.