Johannesburg - Friday’s extraordinary Cosatu central executive committee meeting will go ahead.
But the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) does not want to respond to any additional charges than the five it has been so far notified of.
The urgent application to prevent Numsa from having to argue against its suspension or expulsion on Friday was postponed with all costs reserved at the Johannesburg High Court.
Numsa’s lawyer, Owen Cooke, argued for the case to be postponed pending the outcome of Friday’s CEC when the union could choose to return to court.
“My instructions are to accept that the complaints be confined to the five complaints against Numsa. Then Numsa will take the matter no further. Further, (we propose) that costs be reserved in case things go awry tomorrow (Friday),” Cooke said.
The agreement to no longer request an urgent interdict of Friday’s meeting came after Numsa earlier cited concerns that it would be “ambushed” with additional charges or complaints against it.
Cooke called the documents relating to the charges facing Numsa “vague and embarrassing”.
The five charges are Numsa’s congress resolution to expand its scope to value chains, withdrawal from the tripartite alliance, a resolution to not pay Cosatu subscription fees, to not pay the political levies to the ANC and SACP, and a planned march to Cosatu House in February which did not take place.
“If one thing is obvious, after all the interventions and efforts and the able report placed before the Cosatu by the ANC, it is clear this matter should be allowed to proceed,” said Martin Brassey, SC, a lawyer representing the National Union of Mineworkers, the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union, and the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union.
Numsa General Secretary Irvin Jim told supporters outside the court that the union would oppose its expulsion or suspension on Friday with a comprehensive presentation.
But Cosatu President S’dumo Dlamini said the union was not yet facing disciplinary processes.
Political Bureau