By Amy Musgrave
The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) will hold its postponed elective congress at Emperor’s Palace later this month.
According to insiders, Cosatu’s central executive committee, which met last week and on Monday, had to pick from three venues – Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Nasrec near Soweto and Birchwood, in Boksburg.
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The collapsed September congress was at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, however, it is unavailable for the new dates – 12 to 15 October.
Venue costs proved to be a sticking point. Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi told reporters in September that the federation had spent around R12 million on the congress.
The first meeting, set down for 14-17 September, was adjourned on the night of the second day after the federation’s 16 affiliates failed to reach a quorum within the three hours stipulated by its constitution.
This reason for this was that seven of them refused to submit their credential documents because it was unclear if Cosatu first deputy president Mike Shingange would be able to participate in Cosatu’s elections. This was after his union, Nehawu, put him on provisional suspension on the eve of the congress. He is also the president of Nehawu.
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While Shingange is still on provisional suspension, the Labour Court ruled earlier that he could participate in the elections. Both Shingange and Nehawu have not publicly provided details for the suspension.
It was the first time in its history that Cosatu failed to convene its national congress.
The meeting did not get to nominations for Cosatu’s top six leaders. Nor was the federation able to pronounce on whether it would back the ANC or the SACP in November’s local government elections.
