Snub ANC conferences, says union

Ruling party could face critical revolt

The National Education and Allied Health Workers’ Union (Nehawu) is gunning for the ANC, demanding that Cosatu boycott all ANC conferences until President Jacob Zuma steps down.

Yesterday, a senior Nehawu leader told Sowetan the issue could be raised at next week’s elective congress.

The latest development would be a blow to the ANC because the party has important conferences coming up.

The governing party holds its policy conference at the end of the month, and its national elective conference takes place in December.

Nehawu spokesman Khaya Xaba said yesterday he was not aware of the move to boycott ANC conferences.

Meanwhile, the race for leadership is threatening the unity of Nehawu, with one faction calling for the status quo to remain and the other pushing for new leaders to be elected.

Slates are slugging it out for control of Nehawu, which is the country’s biggest public sector union, ahead of its elective congress that takes place from Monday to Thursday.

The congress, which takes place in Boksburg on the East Rand, is pitting some of its old guard against new leaders.

Sowetan understands that Nehawu’s first deputy president Mike Shingange may stand against president Mzwandile Makwayiba, who is likely to retain his position.

The union’s current general secretary Bereng Soke will be challenged by his deputy Zola Sapetha.

The position of the national treasurer Kgomotso Makhupola is likely to be uncontested.

Nehawu in Mpumalanga made it clear yesterday it wants the current leadership collective led by Makwayiba to be retained.

Provincial secretary Welcome Mnisi said the current leadership should be retained for the sake of unity, cohesion and continuity.

“We don’t want anything that talks about change,” he said.

Nehawu KwaZulu-Natal provincial secretary Phakama Ndunakazi said the province will have a special provincial executive committee meeting tomorrow to finalise the issue of leadership.

Other provincial structures are treading carefully on the leadership issue.

Nehawu Gauteng secretary Tshepo Mokgeranyana declined to comment, saying he was unable to say who the province was supporting.