Cosatu’s R12 million congress collapse: What went wrong and what happens next
COSATU’s aborted congress laid bare tensions over delegate credentials and Mike Shingange’s suspension, leaving the federation to resolve internal disputes and unfinished business when it reconvenes.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) faced a challenging situation after a credentials dispute halted its 15th National Congress, forcing it to cut its programme short and lose R12 million. The federation planned to reconvene within 30 days, with president Zingiswa Losi stating that they would aim to limit costs by using a paperless format, avoiding the need to reproduce documents and reusing T-shirts and banners already purchased.
The primary issue was a dispute over delegate credentials, with some affiliates submitting their credentials while others, including the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU), refused to comply, preventing the necessary quorum from being reached. The Labour Court ruled that Mike Shingange, whose status was disputed, was allowed to participate in the congress.
However, the credentials issue remained unresolved. COSATU considered various options for the next gathering, including using cheaper venues such as stretched tents, hospital halls, or charismatic churches. The adjournment left important discussions on workers' issues, including unemployment, inequality, poverty, retrenchments, occupational health and safety, gender-based violence, and the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, unresolved.
The SACP called on COSATU to resolve its internal challenges and refocus on workers' issues during the reconvened congress.
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