‘Cosatu congress not going anywhere’
Day-long delays over credentials indicative of deep-seated divisions
IT LOOKS probable that critical commissions meant to debate how to unify Cosatu at its special national congress will no longer take place. Delegates told Independent Media that the day-long delays over credentials were indicative of deep-seated divisions which could not be dealt with over the two days set aside for the gathering.
A delegate from Limpopo, who did not want to be named, said: “We are still going to disagree on the agenda, and given that tomorrow is the only day that was dedicated to commissions, I don’t see this congress going anywhere.”
Even the Cosatu president, Sdumo Dlamini, could not confidently outline what would happen next at the congress. He defended the chairperson of the congress’ decision to subject delegates to a vote by show of tag, despite calls for a secret ballot.
“Anything is possible, it’s a highly charged environment,” Dlamini said.
Unions aligned to metalworkers union, Numsa, and former Cosatu general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, who have both been expelled from Cosatu, said they had questions around the legality of the credentials vote. According to Cosatu practices, a meeting cannot proceed until the credentials have been adopted. However, the vote at yesterday’s gathering was decided upon before credentials were approved by delegates.
A senior unionist said: “Indeed, the voting is illegal or unconstitutional because the congress has not started.”
It is understood these unions were also unhappy because they were barred from asking the Independent Electoral Commission, which will run the voting, questions around the process.
Another headache for the Cosatu leadership was the internal battles of the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu). About 20 delegates protested outside the main congress venue last night, demanding the inclusion of their Mpumalanga secretary, who was shown the door after not producing his name tag to security. The group, which also had a run-in with the bodyguards of the Satawu leadership at a caucus meeting on Sunday evening, claimed their tags were given to the bodyguards.
A union member said: “The Cosatu president intervened and said he would address the matter with the Satawu leaders later.”
If the delegates’ fears come to life and the congress collapses, Cosatu would have wasted more than R6 million on the two-day meeting, the sole purpose of which was to attain unity and cohesion and seek clarity on leadership.
Dlamini said: “I’m not a doomsayer. I’m not talking about of the collapse of congress here; we are about building Cosatu. I won’t pre-empt and say congress will collapse. The congress must fulfil its functions as it is convening.”