The biggest trade union federation in the country‚ Cosatu‚ faces an ultimate test as its members gather at a special national congress in Johannesburg today.
Delegates have started arriving at the special congress in Midrand amid speculation that the conference might be disrupted.
Nine Cosatu unions are planning to force the congress to include some contentious issues on the agenda‚ including that the congress should reverse the expulsion of Zwelinzima Vavi as general secretary‚ reinstatement of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa)‚ and the resignation of Cosatu’s deputy president Zingiswa Losi.
Should the faction aligned to Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini and the leadership not accede to those demands to be included on the agenda‚ some say the special congress could collapse.
Cosatu’s general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali has said that “Cosatu would not be entertaining calls for the reinstatement” of Vavi or Numsa. He said that anyone who sought to speak or act against Cosatu’s constitution and agenda would be kicked out.
Speaking on behalf of the defiant unions‚ Katishi Masemola‚ said it was standard practice that one of the first items of any agenda of any federation meeting must be the adoption of the agenda‚ with room to move amendments.
“The chairperson of a session cannot deny them this right. The nine unions have every right to move amendments to the agenda from the floor‚ including to call for their reinstatement‚ and other matters for discussion by delegates‚” said Masemola.
He said the nine unions would be attending the congress in order to exercise their democratic and constitutional right to discuss the implementation of Cosatu Congress resolutions and opening a pathway to unity and cohesion.
The unions may not enjoy massive support but they are banking on the “conscience” of the delegates at the congress.
They believe that there are more delegates who share their view and thus if matters are put on a vote‚ the nine unions could have their way.
Unionists gather for crucial Cosatu congress
Delegates have started arriving at the special congress in Midrand amid speculation that the conference might be disrupted.
Nine Cosatu unions are planning to force the congress to include some contentious issues on the agenda‚ including that the congress should reverse the expulsion of Zwelinzima Vavi as general secretary‚ reinstatement of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa)‚ and the resignation of Cosatu’s deputy president Zingiswa Losi.
Should the faction aligned to Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini and the leadership not accede to those demands to be included on the agenda‚ some say the special congress could collapse.
Cosatu’s general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali has said that “Cosatu would not be entertaining calls for the reinstatement” of Vavi or Numsa. He said that anyone who sought to speak or act against Cosatu’s constitution and agenda would be kicked out.
Speaking on behalf of the defiant unions‚ Katishi Masemola‚ said it was standard practice that one of the first items of any agenda of any federation meeting must be the adoption of the agenda‚ with room to move amendments.
“The chairperson of a session cannot deny them this right. The nine unions have every right to move amendments to the agenda from the floor‚ including to call for their reinstatement‚ and other matters for discussion by delegates‚” said Masemola.
He said the nine unions would be attending the congress in order to exercise their democratic and constitutional right to discuss the implementation of Cosatu Congress resolutions and opening a pathway to unity and cohesion.
The unions may not enjoy massive support but they are banking on the “conscience” of the delegates at the congress.
They believe that there are more delegates who share their view and thus if matters are put on a vote‚ the nine unions could have their way.
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