Numsa loses battle to reinstate Vavi’s foes

By: Sipho Jack 

Trade unions aligned to the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa)’s General Secretary Irvin Jim suffered a heavy blow on Tuesday at the highly contested South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) national congress at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni.

This comes after a motion that was tabled by the unions to seek for the reinstatement of four suspended Saftu national office bearers (NOBs).

The officials were suspended for issuing General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi with a letter of suspension.

About 367 delegates voted for the suspensions to remain in place, while 325 wanted the suspended officials reinstated.

The four Saftu officials were suspended by the federation’s national executive committee in March.

In a turn of events, some of the Numsa delegates questioned the credibility of the results, citing issues of contradictions relating to credentials immediaely after the IEC reported that a total of 746 votes were received in contrast to the adopted credentials of 707 voting delegates.

The IEC clarified the matter and said they printed 746, of which 692 were used. More ballots were printed to take care of cancellations.

Numsa’s spokesperson Phakamile Majola said they can only give comments after the conference.

“Numsa is not commenting on Saftu congress. Not now, only after it is over,” Majola said.

The conference is expected to conclude on Thursday.