TUG-OF-WAR OVER COSATU BOSS POST

LOBBYING to succeed expelled Cosatu boss Zwelinzima Vavi is intensifying in the troubled federation.

This is as Vavi looks set to become the leader of a new trade union federation, after metalworkers union Numsa, his staunch supporters, finally cut ties with Cosatu on Monday.

Sowetan has been told that although there was an agreement initially that acting Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali should be elected to replace Vavi, other union bosses want teacher union Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke to be at the helm of the federation.

More than three Cosatu insiders, including those at Sadtu, said union leaders from various Cosatu affiliates were meeting behind closed doors to decide the future leadership of Cosatu.

The federation is going to hold its elective conference in the next two weeks at Gallagher Estate in Midrand.

Maluleke is the second name to be thrown into the hat for the powerful position of Cosatu general secretary.

Initially there was growing consensus that Ntshalintshali should not face any competition which would distract Cosatu from rebuilding itself coming from years of infighting.

But there were union leaders who felt that Ntshalintshali would not be an ideal candidate.

“Bheki is weak, he is an administrator. There are even complaints that Cosatu has lost ground at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac),” a Cosatu CEC member said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

But officials at Sadtu and Cosatu House were against any move that would cause a contest for the position, opting for Ntshalintshali to be a shoe-in.

They argue that not only would Maluleke offer stiff competition to Ntshalintshali, but Sadtu ’ s victory could force the federation to break with tradition.

Traditionally, if the position of Cosatu president is occupied by a leader from a public sector union – as is the case with Sdumo Dlamini, who is from the National Health, Education and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) – the secretary should be from the industrial unions.

Ntshalintshali is from chemical union Ceppwawu and his election would mean Cosatu would be spared the criticism of being a “yellow federation ”.

A Sadtu insider said the union had decided not to release Maluleke, unless the push to have him was too strong.

“As things stand, the CEC has confidence in him (Maluleke), which is why they want him, but the majority [of public sector unions] don ’ t want a contest.

“Some of the comrades see him as the hope for Cosatu … but as a union we … don ’ t want our secretary to go. The reality is that we are coming from a difficult period,” he said.