Revolutionary South African union federation Cosatu has called a one-day general strike against corruption, state capure and job losses.

Following this week’s three-day central executive committee meeting, the ANC-allied federation yesterday announced the political walkout for September 27.

Cosatu joined the South African Communist Party (SACP) in calling for President Jacob Zuma to quit over his close ties with the shadowy Gupta business family.

The ANC announced a probe into allegations of state capture, but the SACP warned that the decision to broaden the investigation into other areas of the economy would be a diversion allowing the real culprits off the hook.

But Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali backed the extension, saying the federation “wants an investigation that will go back all the way to the pre-1994 era government of national unity to the present.”

And Mr Ntshalintshali said Cosatu will hold talks with the SACP over its congress resolution to consider standing against the ANC in elections but the federation would not make a decision whether to support it until its conference next year.

That contradicted claims by Western Cape provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich on Wednesday that the meeting was debating an SACP invitation to join its electoral front.

Mr Ntshalintshali attacked government plans to sell off some state-owned enterprises, arguing what was needed was more nationalisation — including of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB).

In June the SACP and Vice-President Cyril Ramaphosa – Cosatu’s choice to replace Mr Zuma – attacked recommendations by the new national ombudsman to alter SARB’s constitutional role to one of promoting development, not defending the value of the rand.