COSATU says Shingange remains first deputy president as SACCAWU delegate dispute continues

COSATU has confirmed that Mike Shingange continues to serve as the First Deputy President of the federation, despite being placed on precautionary suspension by NEHAWU. This decision came after COSATU's extended Management Committee and Central Executive Committee (CEC) deliberated on key disputes that had hindered the adoption of credentials at the federation's national congress.

Speaking to delegates, COSATU secretariat Solly Phetoe explained that the leadership had consulted a legal opinion on Shingange's status according to the COSATU Constitution. Clause 9.6 specifies the procedures for removing national office bearers, including the president, first deputy president, and second deputy president. Phetoe stated that Shingange had not been expelled or removed as a shop steward, but rather placed on precautionary suspension under NEHAWU's Constitution. He affirmed that Shingange remains the First Deputy President of COSATU.

The second matter under discussion concerned SACCAWU's delegate allocation for the congress. COSATU's records indicated SACCAWU's membership at 105, entitling the union to 140 delegates per the federation's Constitution. However, SACCAWU submitted an updated membership figure, which would qualify the union for 160 delegates. COSATU agreed to permit the additional 20 delegates from SACCAWU to attend as observers while the issue was being reviewed.

The same committee responsible for this decision would assess whether the late submission had been condoned. If found condoned, those 20 observers would become eligible delegates with voting rights.

The national office bearers aimed to proceed with the congress and urged unions that had not submitted their attendance registers to do so promptly. The outcome of the meeting was presented to delegates, who would determine the next steps for the congress.