{
  "id": 7988323,
  "title": "Why COSATU’s congress collapsed",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/why-cosatus-congress-collapsed",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T08:36:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "GroundUp",
    "slug": "groundup",
    "url": "https://groundup.org.za/article/why-cosatus-congress-collapsed/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The national congress of South Africa's largest trade union federation, COSATU, abruptly ended on Tuesday due to a heated dispute over leadership positions and delegate credentials. This marks the first instance in COSATU's 40-year history where its central gathering failed to achieve a necessary quorum. COSATU is composed of 16 affiliate unions with a combined membership of approximately 1.7-million workers. The congress was set to take place at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand from Monday to Thursday, with around 1,800 delegates from these 16 affiliates expected to participate. The agenda included the election of new leadership and discussions on the state of organized labor, worker challenges, and COSATU's political and economic agenda. However, the event quickly became entangled in arguments regarding who could stand for election and who would be allowed to vote. Following the congress's adjournment on Monday due to lunchtime, the disputes were referred to COSATU's central executive committee (CEC). They remained in talks until the following morning when the congress reconvened on Tuesday morning, only to adjourn again at lunchtime due to unresolved disputes. On Tuesday evening, COSATU President Zingiswa Losi informed the delegates that the gathering would not proceed further. The core of the dispute revolved around the election of COSATU's general secretary and president, crucial roles determining the federation's power balance and the alignments among different affiliate unions. The general secretary, one of COSATU's six national office bearers, is responsible for the daily administration and policy implementation, while the president holds specific constitutional powers. Two factions emerged in the leadership debate, pitting the larger public sector unions, led by NEHAWU and SADTU, against smaller unions represented by NUM and SAMWU. POPCRU and SACTWU also joined NEHAWU and SADTU, representing the majority of delegates present. They supported Mabutho Cele, SADTU's deputy president, for COSATU president and Zingiswa Losi, the current COSATU president, for general secretary. In contrast, the larger industrial union, NUM, along with other unions such as SAMWU, DENOSA, SACCAWU, SASBO, SAMATU, and SAEPU, commanded the majority of affiliates and withheld their credentials, preventing the quorum from being met. These smaller affiliates identified as more militant, with many in the private sector facing increased layoffs, and they favored Mike Shingange for COSATU president, believing he would steer the federation toward a more militant approach. They also backed Solly Phetoe for general secretary, who has held the position since 2022. Shingange, currently COSATU's first deputy president, was previously the immediate former president of NEHAWU, which informed him that they would not endorse his candidacy for COSATU president. On 25 August, the new NEHAWU leadership informed Shingange they would not nominate him for COSATU president, subsequently placing him on precautionary suspension due to misconduct and constitutional breaches claims, though he has not been charged yet. Despite COSATU's leadership ruling that Shingange had not been expelled or removed as a NEHAWU shop steward, enabling him to remain COSATU's deputy president, NUM remained skeptical, citing that the legal opinion had not been tested and Shangange might not be entitled to run. Additionally, NUM and SAMWU reported that some of their female delegates faced violence and intimidation. Following this, the session ended, with delegates emerging to disrupt proceedings. The meeting adjourned for lunch before coming to a halt on Tuesday evening. Judge B Ramji of the Labour Court ruled on Tuesday, in an urgent application heard on Monday and Tuesday, that Shingange's precautionary suspension did not prohibit him from attending, participating in, or standing for election at the COSATU congress. COSATU's legal counsel was ordered to cover his legal expenses. The court also ruled that a presidential candidate did not need to be nominated by their own union. Amid the divisions within COSATU, another unresolved issue is the union's relationship with the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP). In November, for the first time, the SACP will contest local government elections independently of the ANC, potentially threatening the tripartite alliance established during the anti-apartheid struggle. Although COSATU, SACP, and the ANC function as separate organizations, they have historically cooperated closely, running joint campaigns and rallying support in elections. COSATU's leadership suggested a compromise could be reached, with the federation not formally endorsing either party but encouraging its affiliates to support the broader alliance. Public sector unions, in particular, have a vested interest in maintaining relations with the ANC as they negotiate directly with the ANC-led government as the employer. However, even among public sector affiliates, differences exist. NEHAWU formally backed the SACP, while SADTU and POPCRU are reported to support the ANC, while NUM also supports the ANC.",
  "summary": "For the first time in its 40 year history, SA’s biggest union gathering did not reach quorum",
  "key_points": [
    "COSATU congress ends due to leadership dispute",
    "1,800 delegates expected, but quorum not met",
    "NUM and SAMWU withhold credentials, blocking election"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "Cosatu congress collapse shows alliance is falling apart",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/cosatu-congress-collapse-shows-alliance-is-falling-apart",
        "published": "2026-09-17T06:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}