OWN CORRESPONDENT, Midrand | Wednesday 1.20pm
THE heads of two Congress of South African Trade Union affiliates, South African Democratic Teachers’ Union president Willie Madisha and National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union president Vusi Nhlapo emerged as the sole candidates for the presidency of Cosatu on Wednesday.
Cosatu’s acting general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi was nominated unopposed for the post of general secretary.
While the key focus of the three-day conference is to elect new leadership, the federation will also address its mandate for the year and its role within the alliance with the African National Congress and South Africa Communist Party.
Candidates were also nominated for the post of first and second vice president, deputy general secretary and treasurer.
The elections, conducted by the Electoral Institute of South Africa, are scheduled for later in the afternoon and the results are expected to be announced late on Wednesday night.
Cosatu lost four of its key office bearers to government in the June elections. Cosatu’s general secretary Mbhazima Shilowa was nominated as Gauteng premier while the president John Gomomo, second vice president Connie September and treasurer Ronald Mofokeng were elected ANC MPs.
Acting general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi announced that President Thabo Mbeki will not speak at the special congress as he is still tied up with the Southern African Development Community summit in Maputo. He said that African National Congress chairman Patrick Lekota will instead deliver Wednesday’s keynote address.