By Johnathan Paoli
South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) deputy president Mabutho Cele has been nominated to contest the presidency of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), setting up a contest against incumbent first deputy president Mike Shingange.
The nominations were confirmed on Tuesday, the second day of Cosatu’s reconvened 15th National Congress at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, where delegates are electing the federation’s national office-bearers.
Incumbent general secretary Solly Phetoe will face Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi in the race for the federation’s top administrative position.
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Susan Khumalo and Duncan Luvuno were nominated for first deputy president, while Mbali Blose was nominated unopposed for second deputy president, despite a late nomination submission for Zamani Mathiso.
Gerald Twala was nominated unopposed for deputy general secretary, while Khomotso Makhupola and Mike Mangange were nominated for national treasurer.
The nominations process was closed after Sadtu moved the motion, which was seconded by the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu).
Cosatu appointed the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) to oversee the election of its national office-bearers in accordance with the federation’s constitution. EISA presented its election report to the congress plenary for consideration and action.
Losi has led Cosatu since 2018 and was re-elected in 2022. A former shop steward with the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, she rose through the federation’s leadership structures.
Phetoe became general secretary in 2022. He began his career as a machine operator at Firestone in 1982 before moving into union leadership and serving in Cosatu’s North West provincial structures.
Shingange, who is also president of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), is seeking the federation’s top position after a leadership dispute contributed to the collapse of its previous congress.
Luvuno, the incumbent second deputy president, has also been nominated for the first deputy presidency. He has served in Cosatu’s national leadership since 2009.
The leadership contest follows the unprecedented adjournment of Cosatu’s original congress at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand in September, after disputes over delegate credentials and Shingange’s status prevented the gathering from establishing a quorum.
The dispute centred partly on Shingange’s suspension by Nehawu after he defied an instruction not to sign his nomination form.
The Labour Court subsequently ruled in his favour in a related challenge, but the broader dispute over credentials continued to stall the congress.
More than 1,800 delegates representing 16 affiliates are attending the reconvened gathering, which is expected to determine the federation’s leadership and political and organisational direction amid mounting pressure on workers from unemployment, retrenchments and the rising cost of living.
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Monday’s proceedings were also overshadowed by a walkout by African National Congress (ANC) national chairperson Gwede Mantashe, who refused to deliver the party’s message of support before the South African Communist Party (SACP).
Mantashe insisted that the ANC should speak last, arguing that this reflected the historical order of messages of support within the tripartite alliance.
Attempts by ANC Veterans League president Snuki Zikalala and Phetoe to persuade him to remain and address the congress were unsuccessful.
The incident underscored tensions within the alliance, particularly after the SACP decided to contest the November 4 local government elections independently of the ANC.
The congress is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday with the adoption of its declaration and the announcement of the elected national office-bearers.
