Johannesburg - The 15th national congress of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) got off to a rocky start on Wednesday morning after disputes between delegates and the leadership over credentials.
The conference, which is being held at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Boksburg with the theme “Back to basics, membership first”, was meant to have heard an address by its acting president, Piet Matosa, but remained stuck on the formula utilised to allocate delegates figures from regions to the congress. The delegates are worried about the figures in light of the elective nature of the congress.
But General Secretary Frans Baleni told the members in attendance that the new formula was influenced by the union’s reduced membership.
Some regions complained of having been allocated fewer delegates figures although their representation was more than that of others who had more members present at the congress.
“The formula that is being used here is not consistent,” complained a member from North-East region.
African National Congress secretary general Gwede Mantashe and Cosatu President Sdumo Dlamini were expected to address the congress later in the day.
Labour Bureau