Cosatu is facing a revolt from within its ranks after its Eastern Cape chapter distanced itself from the weekend’s decision to expel the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) from the federation.
Seven unions, which represent about 900000 of the federation’s 2.2million members, have announced they have suspended their membership in a show of solidarity with Numsa.
Their leaders said they were withdrawing from Cosatu for about three weeks while they fight to have Numsa reinstated.
Charges against Numsa include poaching members from other unions and a national resolution not to campaign for the ANC in elections. Numsa’s response to the charges were not discussed during Friday night’s central executive committee (CEC) meeting. Instead the union’s expulsion was put to a vote.
Yesterday ANC general secretary Gwede Mantashe, also speaking at a press conference in Johannesburg, admitted the expulsion will weaken the ruling party. He described it as tragic but added there was nothing the ANC could do to change the CEC’s decision. It was up to the federation itself to “smell the coffee, swallow their pride and review the decision”.
“I don't think the ANC will be strong with a weaker ally. Having a weaker ally is not good for the ANC,” Mantashe said.
But the revolt by Cosatu in the Eastern Cape will inflict extra damage to the embattled federation. Cosatu in the province has about 500000 paid-up members – almost a quarter of its total membership.
Cosatu Eastern Cape secretary MacVicar Dyasopu described the decision to expel Numsa as divisive and aimed at turning Cosatu into a “sweetheart federation”. “The expulsion of Numsa has no basis. We cannot condone this blatant inconsistency and recklessness aimed at ensuring a sweetheart federation of sweetheart unions contrary to former glory of a militant, socialist, transformative and independent federation,” he said.
The province’s Cosatu leaders announced yesterday that it would meet tomorrow on how to deal with the “crisis”.
“We will protect this culture against all odds,” he said, further describing the move as “political suicide” and a “betrayal of the revolution”.
Numsa has over 350000 members nationally.
Dyasopu said the “faction” behind the expulsion of Numsa wanted general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi’s ousting.
“Some are hellbent on ensuring a split in Cosatu at all costs,” said Dyasopu. “We need a special national congress to elect leaders. We need a rigorous and relentless struggle to attack the outrageous neo-liberal agenda on all fronts.”
In Johannesburg yesterday, the seven affiliates that announced their temporary withdrawal were the SA Commercial Clothing and Allied Workers Union, the Communications Workers Union, Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu), the SA State and Allied Workers Union, the Public and Allied Workers Union of SA, the Democratic Nurses Organisation of SA and the SA Football Players Union.
They vowed to fight to return Numsa to the fold and also go back to court to force Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini to convene a special national congress.
“There is no Cosatu without Numsa or any other affiliate. With immediate effect, we are suspending our participation and cooperation in Cosatu boardroom/palace politics. It is time to take off the gloves and fight for the federation and save it from those who are willfully plunging it into this unprecedented crisis,” said Fawu general secretary Katishi Masemola.
E Cape stands with Numsa
Seven unions, which represent about 900000 of the federation’s 2.2million members, have announced they have suspended their membership in a show of solidarity with Numsa.
Their leaders said they were withdrawing from Cosatu for about three weeks while they fight to have Numsa reinstated.
Charges against Numsa include poaching members from other unions and a national resolution not to campaign for the ANC in elections. Numsa’s response to the charges were not discussed during Friday night’s central executive committee (CEC) meeting. Instead the union’s expulsion was put to a vote.
Yesterday ANC general secretary Gwede Mantashe, also speaking at a press conference in Johannesburg, admitted the expulsion will weaken the ruling party. He described it as tragic but added there was nothing the ANC could do to change the CEC’s decision. It was up to the federation itself to “smell the coffee, swallow their pride and review the decision”.
“I don't think the ANC will be strong with a weaker ally. Having a weaker ally is not good for the ANC,” Mantashe said.
But the revolt by Cosatu in the Eastern Cape will inflict extra damage to the embattled federation. Cosatu in the province has about 500000 paid-up members – almost a quarter of its total membership.
Cosatu Eastern Cape secretary MacVicar Dyasopu described the decision to expel Numsa as divisive and aimed at turning Cosatu into a “sweetheart federation”. “The expulsion of Numsa has no basis. We cannot condone this blatant inconsistency and recklessness aimed at ensuring a sweetheart federation of sweetheart unions contrary to former glory of a militant, socialist, transformative and independent federation,” he said.
The province’s Cosatu leaders announced yesterday that it would meet tomorrow on how to deal with the “crisis”.
“We will protect this culture against all odds,” he said, further describing the move as “political suicide” and a “betrayal of the revolution”.
Numsa has over 350000 members nationally.
Dyasopu said the “faction” behind the expulsion of Numsa wanted general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi’s ousting.
“Some are hellbent on ensuring a split in Cosatu at all costs,” said Dyasopu. “We need a special national congress to elect leaders. We need a rigorous and relentless struggle to attack the outrageous neo-liberal agenda on all fronts.”
In Johannesburg yesterday, the seven affiliates that announced their temporary withdrawal were the SA Commercial Clothing and Allied Workers Union, the Communications Workers Union, Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu), the SA State and Allied Workers Union, the Public and Allied Workers Union of SA, the Democratic Nurses Organisation of SA and the SA Football Players Union.
They vowed to fight to return Numsa to the fold and also go back to court to force Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini to convene a special national congress.
“There is no Cosatu without Numsa or any other affiliate. With immediate effect, we are suspending our participation and cooperation in Cosatu boardroom/palace politics. It is time to take off the gloves and fight for the federation and save it from those who are willfully plunging it into this unprecedented crisis,” said Fawu general secretary Katishi Masemola.
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