ANC steps in to halt Cosatu in-fighting

Media reports say that the embattled Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) has asked the ANC to intervene in a mediation process in an attempt to prevent member unions from deserting its ranks after being paralysed for almost two years because of bitter in-fighting between different factions.

Cyril Ramaphosa was asked to mediate in the in-fighting among Cosatu's members and prevented the expulsion of Numsa from its ranks. Image: Swing Top Circle

On Tuesday (8 April), Cosatu's central executive committee postponed its own attempt to quell widespread discontent and asked the ANC's deputy-president Cyril Ramaphosa and deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte to mediate in the disputes that are causing rebellious factions such as the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) to threaten to cut all ties with the federation.

According to The Times report, the meeting was "nearly scuppered" as rival factions argued over the adoption of an agenda for the meeting. Over the past two years there has been widespread discontent among member unions particularly after the suspension of secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi after his sexual encounter with a younger employee.

There have also been calls - led predominantly by Numsa - for a special congress to be held to get rid of Vavi, while a different faction wants Vavi to be retained and a new leadership elected.

The Times says the faction sympathetic to Cosatu's president Sidumo Dlamini is against any special congress. The Dlamini faction includes the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the SA Democratic Teachers' Union, the SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union.

Numsa, meanwhile, has reiterated its call for Vavi's suspension to be re-imposed.

Ramaphosa's intervention has prevented moves to expel Numsa from the federation or to re-impose Vavi's suspension - at least until after the general elections in May.

Source: The Times