The make-or-break meeting of the Cosatu top brass got off to a shaky start yesterday over the agenda of the meeting.
This is the same meeting at which Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi is scheduled to table a report which paints a picture of a highly divided federation, and where leaders were forced to take any matter to a vote due to factional divisions.
The Daily Dispatch has established through various leaders attending the gathering at Cosatu House in Johannesburg that on day one of the central executive committee (CEC) meeting affiliates were bickering over the agenda.
Cosatu’s CEC is meeting until tomorrow to discuss a report of the ANC's intervention into its ongoing infighting, which has pushed the organisation to the brink of a split.
In terms of the meeting’s agenda, the crucial gathering was scheduled to discuss the ANC report and the way forward, as well as Vavi’s draft report to the federation’s CEC meeting next month.
But the animosity among the affiliates played itself from the word go.
“It is tough. We are still discussing the agenda,” said one leader, noting that tension had heightened hours into the meeting.
The ANC was only able to present its report around 1pm after which the meeting broke for lunch.
On the eve of the meeting, the federation’s most militant affiliate, the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (Numsa) said they were aware that they would be suspended at the three day meeting.
In response, Numsa threatened court action should they be suspended or expelled.
This was after it emerged that the ANC’s efforts to bring about peace in the troubled federation had failed.
The union has been banking on the Cyril Ramaphosa led ANC task team to sort out its internal factional fights.
On one side are Vavi’s supporters led by Numsa against Cosatu president Sidumo Dlamini’s faction which is led by the National Union of Mineworkers.
It was not the first time Cosatu affiliates spent time fighting over procedural issues, states Vavi’s report seen by the Dispatch.
“Throughout Cosatu’s history, the CEC had virtually always been able to reach agreement without voting. However, since last year, the CEC has had to vote on numerous issues, even on simple procedural issues.
“One CEC spent the whole day on credentials until 11pm,” Vavi’s report reads.
Cosatu was paralysed, Vavi reiterated, adding the organisation was at its weakest in its history.
“Most of the policy, and organisational issues tabled for discussion have not been discussed because on the focus on the single issue of divisions.
“Never in its history has Cosatu CEC been so consumed by divisions, largely to the exclusion of all other issues.”
The meeting continued until late last night. It was unclear when exactly would Numsa and Vavi’s possible suspension would be discussed, if last week’s media reports were true.
Vavi: Cosatu consumed by divisions
This is the same meeting at which Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi is scheduled to table a report which paints a picture of a highly divided federation, and where leaders were forced to take any matter to a vote due to factional divisions.
The Daily Dispatch has established through various leaders attending the gathering at Cosatu House in Johannesburg that on day one of the central executive committee (CEC) meeting affiliates were bickering over the agenda.
Cosatu’s CEC is meeting until tomorrow to discuss a report of the ANC's intervention into its ongoing infighting, which has pushed the organisation to the brink of a split.
In terms of the meeting’s agenda, the crucial gathering was scheduled to discuss the ANC report and the way forward, as well as Vavi’s draft report to the federation’s CEC meeting next month.
But the animosity among the affiliates played itself from the word go.
“It is tough. We are still discussing the agenda,” said one leader, noting that tension had heightened hours into the meeting.
The ANC was only able to present its report around 1pm after which the meeting broke for lunch.
On the eve of the meeting, the federation’s most militant affiliate, the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (Numsa) said they were aware that they would be suspended at the three day meeting.
In response, Numsa threatened court action should they be suspended or expelled.
This was after it emerged that the ANC’s efforts to bring about peace in the troubled federation had failed.
The union has been banking on the Cyril Ramaphosa led ANC task team to sort out its internal factional fights.
On one side are Vavi’s supporters led by Numsa against Cosatu president Sidumo Dlamini’s faction which is led by the National Union of Mineworkers.
It was not the first time Cosatu affiliates spent time fighting over procedural issues, states Vavi’s report seen by the Dispatch.
“Throughout Cosatu’s history, the CEC had virtually always been able to reach agreement without voting. However, since last year, the CEC has had to vote on numerous issues, even on simple procedural issues.
“One CEC spent the whole day on credentials until 11pm,” Vavi’s report reads.
Cosatu was paralysed, Vavi reiterated, adding the organisation was at its weakest in its history.
“Most of the policy, and organisational issues tabled for discussion have not been discussed because on the focus on the single issue of divisions.
“Never in its history has Cosatu CEC been so consumed by divisions, largely to the exclusion of all other issues.”
The meeting continued until late last night. It was unclear when exactly would Numsa and Vavi’s possible suspension would be discussed, if last week’s media reports were true.
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