Zingiswa Losi, Cosatu's second deputy president. Picture: THE TIMES
Zingiswa Losi, Cosatu's second deputy president. Picture: THE TIMES

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COSATU’s leadership will remain largely unchanged after the union federation’s 12th national congress this week, with most of the incumbents nominated uncontested to keep their positions on Monday.

However, a last-minute vote on Monday was expected to lead to second deputy president Zingiswa Losi becoming the third nominee for the position of deputy general secretary.

It is understood she was being pushed to stand for the position to “strengthen” the secretariat of the Congress of South African Trade Unions as it moves to rebuild after three years of factional fighting.

The delegates endorsed a call from numerous affiliates for nominations to close for five uncontested positions within the top six. Delegates voted to have nominations for the position of deputy general secretary remain opened until 10am on Wednesday.

The other two contenders for the position are Oscar Phaka, deputy general secretary of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa), and Solly Phetoe, Cosatu’s provincial secretary in the North West.

Disputed credentials

Ms Losi was at the centre of a dispute over credentials earlier on Monday. Two unions had argued she was not eligible to remain as second deputy president after she resigned from her position as shop steward for the expelled National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa. She has since moved to police union Popcru.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) said on Monday that Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini was the sole nominee for re-election as president, acting general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali was the sole nominee for general secretary and national treasurer Freda Oosthuizen was the sole nominee for her position.

The Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) and South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) had called for all nominations for the positions to remain open. Most other unions opposed that call, insisting that only the position of deputy general secretary remain open.

The congress, taking place over four days until Thursday, got off to a slow start as organisers waited for credentials from the 18 unions scheduled to attend.

In addition to the dispute over Ms Losi’s credentials, Fawu objected to the status of newly formed affiliate, the Liberated Metalworkers Union of South Africa (Limusa).

Appeal for unity

In his opening address to the congress in Midrand, Mr Dlamini appealed for the federation to emerge united from its congress. “This congress has to reassert the character of the federation as we have known it: disciplined, militant and campaigning.”

He called on delegates to sign off on constitutional amendments allowing intervention in embattled affiliates, and warned the African National Congress (ANC) not to take the support of Cosatu members for granted.

Mr Dlamini called for unity in resisting job losses, and thanked the government for interventions aimed at saving jobs, but repeated Cosatu’s warnings that its members would not vote for the ANC if it pushed ahead with reforms to retirement laws.

“Government must never interfere with the workers’ provident funds and the retirement funds without consulting us,” he said, warning that the federation would be willing to down tools over the matter.

Mr Dlamini also thanked the leaders of other South African trade union federations for their support during Cosatu’s internal battles.