Numsa versus Cosatu battle continues

Steven Tau

The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) says it will fight to ensure its members are part of the Cosatu special national congress in July.

This was in response to a high court ruling in Johannesburg yesterday which ordered Cosatu to hold the congress within two months.

Speaking to The Citizen, Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said they will deal with Cosatu through the courts.

Asked when they intend going to court, Jim replied: “I can’t comment on that now because we do not want to reveal our tactics, except to say we are happy with the court’s declaration order.

“We want to make it clear that S’dumo ( Dlamini, Cosatu president) has been flouting the Cosatu constitution for the past two years, and he did everything to avoid worker democracy when he expelled Numsa.”

Dlamini said the federation and its affi liates had long agreed to hold a congress, and that the court order was nothing new.

“This is an out-of-court settlement between Cosatu and its affi liates who have been boycotting central executive committee meetings,” he said.

Dlamini stressed that Numsa would not be a part of the special national congress to be held on July 14 and 15.

“Numsa is not an affi liate to Cosatu, and therefore they won’t be part of the congress,” he said.

Labour analyst Terry Bell said yesterday’s court order confirmed that Cosatu’s executive had no right to expel office bearers or their affi liate and could only give recommendations.

Political analyst Elvis Masoga held different views.

“The foremost judicial responsibility is to intepret the rule of law and not decide or dictate to political parties or trade union federations on how to conduct their business.

Masoga said it appeared the courts were rendering trade union federations’ policies and constitutions useless.

Reacting to Numsa’s plan to take Cosatu to court, Masoga said: “Numsa is behaving like hypocrites because on the one hand they have been vowing to form an independent labour federation, while on the other, they still want to be part of Cosatu and this is sending mixed signals.”

“Numsa is independent and cannot compel Cosatu to accomodate them,” Masoga said.

The judiciary must interpret the rule of law and not dictate to trade union federations Elvis Masoga Political analyst