Johannesburg - Cosatu will hold a special national congress which could result in the election of new leaders in July.
The federation’s leaders told reporters on Thursday that the gathering was likely to take place from July 13-16.
Cosatu deputy general secretary Bheki Ntshalntshali said the dates would be signed off after a special central executive committee discussed the matter.
More than a third of Cosatu’s affiliates called for the congress according to its constitution. The call was led by the federation’s expelled affiliate, metalworkers union, Numsa.
Numsa and some of Cosatu’s affiliates want the special congress because they are unhappy with the political direction of the federation. Some have accused it of becoming a labour desk for the ANC.
Numsa will be allowed to appeal its expulsion at the congress.
The metalworkers and its allies have now agreed that they will no longer pursue the congress through the courts.
“Our lawyers have informed us that the applicants are prepared not to continue with the litigation if we issue the notice, and we have committed that we shall issue such a notice in line with the Cosatu constitution,” said Ntshalintshali.
Meanwhile, a forensic report into alleged impropriety in the sale of Cosatu's old head office and purchase of a new one implicates general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, the trade union federation said on Thursday.
The report, by auditing firm Sizwe Ntsaluba Gobodo, which was handed to the central executive committee (CEC), showed that the auditors had not been able to meet Vavi despite their attempts to do so, Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) deputy general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali told reporters in Johannesburg.
The report was handed to the committee at its three-day meeting this week.
“The meeting mandated the NOBs (national office bearers) to write a letter to the Cosatu general secretary to meet with the auditors to provide any information which may be required,” Ntshalintshali said.
“The special CEC will receive the final report and make a determination on the way forward based on the recommendations in the report.”
There were allegations that Vavi's stepdaughter was involved in one of the companies that worked on the head office transaction.
Vavi boycotted this week's CEC. This was after some affiliates announced they would stay away until the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) was reinstated as a Cosatu member.
Numsa was expelled from the trade union federation in November.
Ntshalintshali on Thursday said Cosatu had been served court papers by Numsa challenging its suspension.
Numsa is allowed to appeal its expulsion at a Cosatu national congress. Ntshalintshali said a special national congress would be held in July.
Group Labour Editor and Sapa