CHARLES MOLELE
JOSTLING for positions in the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has heightened with many high-ranking officials vying for the Top Five positions ahead of the elective congress in two weeks’ time.
The hotly-contested NUM’s elective congress, where all senior leadership positions are being contested, is expected to start at the end of March at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Gauteng.
High-powered delegations from the African National Congress (ANC), SA Communist Party (SACP) and labour federation COSATU are expected to attend the much-anticipated national congress.
NUM has been deeply divided for over a decade‚ with infighting contributing to its membership losses as some members defected to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), which overtook NUM to become the biggest mining union in the country.
As the euphoria engulfs the structures, insiders said dirty tricks have also been the order of the day as different slates vie for power in a bid to influence the outcomes of the upcoming COSATU elective congress in September, including the ANC’s elective congress in December.
“There will be blood on the floor. While both slates support President Cyril Ramaphosa, there are tensions as to how COSATU congress in September will eventually turn out. Many leaders want to influence the outcome of the COSATU congress, and there are differences of opinion as to who will have the last word,” an inside told Inside Politics this week.
“As we speak, COSATU has not confirmed who will attend NUM’s national congress, which is very odd given that NUM’s national congress is to be held in two weeks’ time. The ANC, the SACP and other fraternal organisations have already confirmed their delegates who will be attending but COSATU has not yet confirmed who will attend the congress of one of its largest union affiliates. The situation is very tense.”
Joseph Montisetse is seeking re-lection as NUM President.
Montisetse is expected to be challenged by Dan Balepile, the former NUM Sibanye Stillwater Kroondal Chairperson.
Montisetse was elected NUM President at the 16th National Congress at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg in June 2018.
Nelson Ratshoshi, the former Chairperson of the Highveld Region, is expected to contest for the position of NUM Deputy President.
Ratshoshi will be up against the current NUM Deputy President, Phillip Vilakazi, who is seeking re-election.
Vilakazi was elected the Deputy President of the NUM during the 16th NUM National Congress five years ago.
Acting NUM General Secretary William Mabapa will be up against Phillip Mankge, the Regional Secretary of the North East region of Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
Mabapa became Deputy General Secretary in 2015 and assumed the acting role in the top spot at the end of 2020 when General Secretary David Sipunzi died suddenly after a short illness.
If Mabapa is elected NUM General Secretary, the current Regional Secretary of the Western Cape, Sonwabile Fisa, is expected to contest for the position of NUM Deputy General Secretary.
The opposing faction is lobbying for Mpho Phakedi, the current NUM Treasurer-General, to be elected as the next NUM Deputy General Secretary.
Phakedi was elected NUM Treasurer General at the 16th National Congress.
Phakedi says he is looking forward to rebuilding and grow this union of Mine, Energy and Construction.
According to the mineworkers union’s statement this week, 682 voting delegates and about 45 invited guests are expected to participate in the national congress.
Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, COSATU leadership, SACP General Secretary Blade Nzimande and ANC’s Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile are scheduled to address the national congress.
- Inside Politics
