COSATU leaders reject political interference claims after congress collapse

By Amy Musgrave

Cosatu leaders have poured cold water over claims that political interference led to the federation’s congress collapsing, saying it had to be adjourned to avoid further litigation.

“It is difficult for us to speculate if it was driven by politics… We did not get to the political report … or the state of the alliance,” Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi told reporters on Wednesday.

The four-day meeting that was meant to kick off on Monday morning, adjourned on Tuesday night. It was the first time in its history that Cosatu failed to convene its national congress after its 16 affiliates could not reach a quorum within the three hours stipulated by the federation’s constitution.

This reason for this was that seven affiliates refused to submit their credential documents because it was unclear if Cosatu first deputy president Mike Shingange would be able to participate in the federation’s elections