Sam Shilowa will no doubt keep his job as chief of Cosatu … but not everyone in Cosatu will applaud. Drew Forrest reports
UNEASE over Sam Shilowa’s fitness for the post of Cosatu secretary-general continues to bubble to the surface in the federation as it prepares for its first post-election national congress next week.
Misgivings centre on Shilowa’s perceived political ambition and lack of long-term commitment to the workers’ movement. “People fear he views Cosatu as a stepping- stone,” said one source.
His leadership style has also been questioned. Shilowa said this week he would not respond to “faceless criticism”.
In a sign that some Cosatu unions are still casting about for alternatives, affilates have requested the deadline for nominations to his and five other Cosatu leadership posts be extended until Monday. The congress starts two days later.
Sources say there has been “intense caucusing” around the general secretary’s position, but that the lack of consensus on a suitable alternative is likely to see Shilowa re-elected.
Metalworkers’ chief Enoch Godongwana, the favourite of many delegates at last year’s special congress, has again made it clear he is not available. The National Union of Metalworkers has been particularly hard hit by the loss of key officials to regional and national parliaments.
And this week Shilowa’s assistant, Zwelinzima Vavi — widely considered to have the right kind of worker perspective and links with the membership base — also confirmed he would not stand, saying he was “young and still learning”. Like Shilowa, Vavi was voted into his current post a year ago at the special congress.
Reports indicate that the National Union of Mineworkers will not release its general secretary and his assistant, Kgalema Mothlante and Gwede Mantashe, as Cosatu candidates. Fluent and intellectually agile textile union chief Ebrahim Patel also told the WM&G he was not available — although sources stress that as a non- African, he was never a strong contender.
All sources agree that Shilowa is acute and articulate, has been an effective mouthpiece for Cosatu and has made few glaring blunders in his year in office.
But doubts persist over his “overly autocratic style”, with complaints that he tends to override leaders of affiliates, fails to delegate and does not seek advice. Some stressed that his predecessor, Jay Naidoo, had faced similar criticism early in his tenure.
The major concern is that Shilowa is ill-equipped to lead the federation in a demanding new era when worker issues, rather than resistance politics, will be central. Rallying around the cry of “Back to basics!”, next week’s congress will focus on rebuilding decayed union power on the ground.
Shilowa first attracted unfavourable comment when he allegedly failed to clear his candidacy for the post of Cosatu assistant general secretary with the Transport and General Workers’ Union, of which he had recently been elected president.
The perception that he is more of a political than union animal undoubtedly has roots in his strong ties with both the ANC and the South African Communist Party.
During the rumpus over Cosatu’s endorsement of lockout rights in the interim constitution, he took heavy flak — despite claims that he was not personally responsible.
Some influential unions at last year’s special congress agonised over confirming him in Naidoo’s position, but in the absence of a clear alternative agreed to give him a chance, reviewing the issue at the next national congress.