Numsa finally decides to formpolitical party
UNION STILL FIGHTS EXPULSION
NUMSA has moved to finally form a new political party, but its leaders still remain in the dark about the kind of party to be launched or how soon that would happen.
They have since resolved to convene workshops to canvas views from union members.
“We must go back to workers to participate in shaping the nature of the political organ,” Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said in Johannesburg yesterday as he pronounced the outcomes of the central committee meeting.
“Forming a political party is no pap and [meat]. We have seen people forming parties and we have seen them fracture and liquidate themselves fighting.”
The indecisiveness on Numsa leadership ’ s part happened despite Jim saying last week that the final decision on the party would be taken at the meeting.
However yesterday, Jim, went as far as labelling questions on whether the party would contest the 2016 local government elections as “premature ”.
He derided suggestions that Numsa was dilly-dallying, saying the regional workshops were part of a democratic process to canvass the views of members.
“The central committee has mandated us to coordinate a process of debate on the nature and form of this political organ.
“To say whether we are forming a vanguard party, a mass party or an organ of professional revolutionaries.”
Jim touted the possibility of a new feder- ation to compete with Cosatu.
“It ’ s not like we don ’ t know that the writing is on the wall, that they don ’ t want Numsa.”
Despite this, he was adamant Numsa would not abandon fighting its expulsion in court and dared Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini to come and expel them in court.
Numsa plans to use its leftist formation, the United Front, to battle with the ANC during local government elections. This would involve backing independent candidates.
However, this decision would have to be endorsed at the United Front launch conference in June.