A Bhisho Nehawu branch, which broke ranks with its mother body when it opposed the expulsion of Numsa and Zwelinzima Vavi from Cosatu, is taking its national executive to the labour court in a bid to reverse its disbandment.Nehawu’s cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) branch was dissolved last November. This came after the branch leaders had accused Nehawu’s regional leadership of siding with the employer at the expense of workers.
Max Madlingozi regional secretary Siya Kobese at the time said the branch was dissolved due to irresolvable differences between the branch and the union’s regional leadership.
Branch leadership had accused the region of siding with the employer and of “accepting bribes” from departmental bosses.
In a bid to have its disbandment reversed, this week the leadership wrote to Nehawu’s general secretary Bareng Soke, asking for his office to intervene by yesterday. They said failure to intervene would lead to them approaching the labour court to set aside the disbandment.
Soke and Nehawu national chairman Mzwandile Makwayiba could not be reached for comment at the time of writing.
In a letter to Soke dated February 15, which has been seen by the Daily Dispatch, branch chairman Lennox Maho pleaded for reversal of the branch’s disbandment because it was detrimental to the interests of the workers in the department.
Maho further stated that the disbandment, and failure to appoint an interim structure at the department, “was creating a vacuum” and was not assisting in advancing the cause of workers.
“The challenge we are facing is that we cannot hold meetings and discuss worker issues. We cannot engage with management on matters of mutual interest,” he wrote.
Maho yesterday confirmed the labour court plans, but refused to comment on the letter, saying the matter was being dealt with internally. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Disbanded branch in court action
Nehawu’s cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) branch was dissolved last November. This came after the branch leaders had accused Nehawu’s regional leadership of siding with the employer at the expense of workers.
Max Madlingozi regional secretary Siya Kobese at the time said the branch was dissolved due to irresolvable differences between the branch and the union’s regional leadership.
Branch leadership had accused the region of siding with the employer and of “accepting bribes” from departmental bosses.
In a bid to have its disbandment reversed, this week the leadership wrote to Nehawu’s general secretary Bareng Soke, asking for his office to intervene by yesterday. They said failure to intervene would lead to them approaching the labour court to set aside the disbandment.
Soke and Nehawu national chairman Mzwandile Makwayiba could not be reached for comment at the time of writing.
In a letter to Soke dated February 15, which has been seen by the Daily Dispatch, branch chairman Lennox Maho pleaded for reversal of the branch’s disbandment because it was detrimental to the interests of the workers in the department.
Maho further stated that the disbandment, and failure to appoint an interim structure at the department, “was creating a vacuum” and was not assisting in advancing the cause of workers.
“The challenge we are facing is that we cannot hold meetings and discuss worker issues. We cannot engage with management on matters of mutual interest,” he wrote.
Maho yesterday confirmed the labour court plans, but refused to comment on the letter, saying the matter was being dealt with internally. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
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