Union seeks to keep its leadership fully intact

THE National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) in the Eastern Cape wants its leadership unchanged when the union holds its elective congress in Cape Town next month.

This would mean that president Andrew Chirwa, general secretary Irvin Jim, deputy general secretary Karl Cloete, national treasurer Maphumzi Maqungo and second deputy president Basil Cele would be re-elected unopposed.

The only position that would have to be filled is that of first deputy president, currently held by Christine Olivier, as she will no longer be eligible for re-election as the business where she worked has closed.

To be eligible for a leadership position, one has to be employed as a Numsa member in good standing.

The union will hold its 10th national congress from December 12 to 16 at the Cape Town ICC.

Eastern Cape leaders will meet at the union’s Newtown Park offices in Port Elizabeth today to hold their regional policy workshop where September’s regional congress resolution for the status quo to remain is expected to be rubber-stamped.

Numsa regional secretary Mziyanda Twani said the current crop of national bosses deserved another term as, among other reasons, they have grown membership from about 250 000 to almost 340 000 from 2014.

For Jim and Cloete, this would be their third terms if re-elected while Maqungo, Chirwa and Cele will serve second terms.

“We think they are still young and they still have lots of contributions to make to the union.

“They have really grown the membership of the union despite the challenges that they faced,” Twani said.

One of those challenges was Numsa being booted out of Cosatu for allegedly violating its founding principles of one sector, one union, among others.

Numsa leaders have always maintained that the union was expelled because of its vocal stance against the ANC-led government and what it calls the state’s neoliberal policies.

Union leaders also believed that openly supporting then suspended Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi played a role.

Vavi was eventually expelled for having sex with a junior employee at his office.

“There’s no need to rock the boat. There are no qualms. The current leadership has done an excellent job,” said Twani. — ndamasem@dispatch.co.za