The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) says it will back the existing Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) leadership at this month’s congress, with the addition of a metal worker to the top structure.
”Numsa backs the current collective leadership,” said Numsa general secretary Silumko Nondwando at a press conference in Johannesburg on Monday, attended by Numsa’s top leadership.
The announcement follows Numsa’s central committee meeting at the weekend in preparation for the Cosatu congress.
On Friday, Cosatu vice-president Joe Nkosi resigned and Numsa wants that post.
”We resolved that in the collective of the federation there is going to be a metal worker,” said Nondwando.
The Numsa leaders would not be drawn on the names of any candidates. They emphasised the need for leadership attributes rather than names to be the basis of discussion, saying that leaders should represent the working class and improve service to Cosatu members.
”Metal workers must find expression in that leadership,” said Nondwando.
Fawu favours unchanged Cosatu
Meanwhile, reacting to reports of a leadership crisis in Cosatu, the Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Fawu) said on Monday it will call for the retention or re-election of the current federation leadership.
Fawu president Phillip Manamela Khage, flanked by five Fawu national office bearers, told a news conference in Johannesburg that both the general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and president Willie Madisha will be supported by Fawu at Cosatu’s upcoming ninth national congress.
”They both played a wonderful role as leaders when we at Fawu had problems, so we cannot prefer one over the other.”
Saying Fawu’s support of Cosatu leadership was strong, secretary general Katishi Masemola said the union would want to ”retain the current crop of leadership”, but that Fawu’s position was ”subject to further discussions with other affiliates and their views.
”We can only change our stance on one or some, or even all, of the leaders if convincing arguments are made.”
Responding to reports of a split in leadership in Cosatu as a result of differences between Vavi and Madisha, Masemola said: ”There is no evidence of factionalism within Cosatu.”
He went on to condemn leaks to the media from within the labour movement, saying it was ”unacceptable and a matter of ethics”. — Sapa