Johannesburg - Some delegates attending Cosatu’s 12th national congress in Midrand on Monday say they hope the election of new leaders will end rifts within the federation.
The organisation has battled deep divisions in the past few years which have threatened to split it.
Cosatu’s 2 500 delegates will elect new leaders this week.
The congress floor on Monday was dominated with talk over nominated candidates, while some unions were still lobbying support for their ideal national office-bearers.
“We are still concerned about divisions in the federation, we are hoping the congress will discuss this,” said Samsom Malepe, a delegate from Limpopo.
While delegates were encouraged to refrain from singing songs in support of individuals, members of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) could not contain their backing for Cosatu’s second deputy president Zingiswa Losi. During her walkabout in the congress venue, Satawu members cheered.
Sources at the congress have told Independent Media that while the majority of the unions were in support of Losi’s re-election in her current position, Satawu wanted to nominate her for the position of deputy general secretary.
Members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union also sang songs in support of Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini, saying: “We are not shy, we support Sdumo.”
Members of one of the rebel unions, the Food and Allied Workers Union, sang that they were pleased that Dlamini was out.
LABOUR BUREAU