By Amy Musgrave and Akani Nkuna
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) congress was on the brink of collapse on Monday after unions threatened to walk out as the federation’s 15th national congress began in turmoil.
The federation’s central executive committee has been tasked with deciding how to proceed as the congress reached an impasse over the submission of credentials.
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Only five of the 16 affiliates had submitted the required documents by lunchtime.
Several unions, including the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu), are demanding answers on the status of Mike Shingange, Cosatu’s first deputy president.
Shingange, who is also president of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), has apparently been suspended from his union.
Affiliates including NUM, Samwu and Sasbo demanded that the congress discuss Shingange’s position at Nehawu before the meeting starts.
According to insiders, Nehawu suspended Shingange after NUM backed him for the Cosatu presidency.
Other affiliates, including Nehawu, said the matter should be addressed when credentials are discussed later in the day.
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Nehawu is supporting SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) deputy president Mabutho Cele for Cosatu president.
NUM wants Solly Phetoe to continue as general secretary, while public sector unions are backing Zingiswa Losi for the position.
Another issue raised by affiliates is whether the congress should be postponed because a quorum has not been reached.
Cosatu’s constitution states: “If after three hours of the time fixed for the meeting, a quorum is not present, the meeting must stand adjourned to a time and place decided upon by the president, provided that the meeting must be held within (1) month.”
The four-day congress was scheduled to start at 10am.
Meanwhile, insiders said Shingange had gone to court over the matter.
More information was not immediately available.
The leadership contest comes as Cosatu faces a decision on whether it will back the ANC or the SACP in the November local government elections.
Cosatu leaders had earlier pleaded with affiliates not to allow leadership and election tensions to bog down the congress.
A total of 16 affiliated unions will be represented at the four-day congress, with 1,820 delegates expected to attend.
The congress will focus on rebuilding working power, with Cosatu about 500,000 members short of its two-million membership target.
It will also discuss defending decent work, organising workers in a changing world of work, fighting economic policies that shift the burden of crises onto workers, and strengthening working-class unity and international solidarity.
Cosatu has six national office-bearers.
The outcome of the leadership votes is expected to be announced on Thursday.
