Johannesburg - Cosatu has come down hard on those planning to disrupt its special national congress (SNC) next week.
The federation’s leaders addressed the media in Soweto on Thursday morning, vowing to kick out anyone who sought to speak or act against Cosatu’s constitution and agenda at the congress.
Acting general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali emphasised that Cosatu would not be entertaining calls for the reinstatement of expelled former general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi or Numsa.
Unions and unionists which have boycotted Cosatu’s central executive committee since Numsa's expulsion said they would call for their reinstatement at the congress. They planned to raise matters - including the election of new leaders - from the floor for discussion by delegates.
“If the chair says Vavi is not an item and you continue calling for Vavi, you will be removed from the congress. These are powers given to the chair to make sure that there is order in the meeting," said Ntshalintshali.
The federation said it would make allowances for Numsa’s appeal to be tabled at the ordinary national congress in November.
Cosatu’s second deputy president, Zingiswa Losi, took the matter of planned disruptions even further, saying Numsa had budgeted R250 000 for the congress, insinuating it could be used to bribe delegates.
“Money is used for delegates to be hyper at times in congresses,” she said.
Cosatu also launched its discussion document, which deals with the plethora of challenges facing the federation, including the failure to attract members across different races.
Labour Bureau