The Congress of South African Trade Unions’ (Cosatu) annual conference was dealt a blow on Monday when it was discovered one of its most prominent and active participants had died, a union official said.
Andre Kriel, deputy general secretary of the South African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (Sactwu), said Phumuza Patrick Cokotho (53) ”passed away in his sleep during the night on Sunday. The exact time of death is not yet known.”
He said Cokotho had been a Sactwu shop steward for 22 years and had worked as a head cutter at John Peter’s Clothing company in Durban.
He was also a senior leader in Sactwu,; the chairperson of the shop stewards’ committee and of the union’s Durban North branch, and a member of the national executive committee.
Kriel said Cokotha had served on the union’s national wage negotiating team for the clothing industry for many years and was a delegate to the National Bargaining Council for the clothing industry’s KwaZulu-Natal chamber.
Said Kriel: ”His last trade union act was on Sunday when he actively participated on a whole day caucus in preparation for the congress. He spoke out very harshly against rising job losses in the clothing industry, fiercely detected the importance of strengthening Cosatu structures and campaigns and co-composed the union’s congress theme song.
”He was last seen alive when he retired to his room after supper on Sunday at approximately 9.30pm.”
Kriel said there would be a post-mortem to establish the cause of death.
He said Cokotho would be remembered for his commitment to the workers’ struggle, and for his sense of humour.
Cokotho leaves his wife and three children. — Sapa