Africa-Press – South-Africa. On the first day of National Union of Metalworkers of SA’s (Numsa) 11th national congress, nominations were called, where current president Andrew Chirwa and secretary-general Irvin Jim were the only people set to contest their positions, paving the way for the two to be re-elected unopposed if the congress stands valid.
The congress went ahead on Wednesday, two days behind schedule, after the Labour Court found the suspension of 31 Numsa officials ahead of the gathering to be invalid. It ordered the union to comply with its own constitution before going ahead with its national conference.
Numsa held a special central committee meeting on Tuesday, which resolved that it had addressed the Labour Court’s concerns and could go ahead with the congress. According to Jim, the union had lifted the suspensions; the Mpumalanga region would no longer be under administration; and Numsa was appealing the interdict on the congress on an urgent basis.
But the suspended officials believe the congress remains invalid. The Labour Court was due to hear lawyers’ oral arguments via a virtual hearing late on Wednesday afternoon.
Earlier on Wednesday, Fin24 reported that lawyers of suspended Numsa officials sent a letter of demand to the union asking for the minutes of its recent meetings where it was decided to proceed with the interdicted congress.
Numsa’s lawyers say special meeting will solve issues, allow congress to go ahead
Chirwa told delegates at the interdicted congress that Judge Graham Moshoana had misinterpreted the Numsa constitution in his judgment and that he mischaracterised the nature of the suspensions, which Chirwa said were always precautionary.
He said the judgment had to be appealed or it would set a precedent for an array of misinterpretations of the union’s constitution.
“The judge erred and misinterpreted our Numsa constitution. We think that he erred in how he interpreted it,” said Chirwa.
Chirwa told the delegation that the suspensions, while lifted, emanated from serious instances of misconduct and ill-discipline within the ranks of the union and that leaving these unaddressed was akin to condoning anarchy.
“The organisation cannot excuse misconduct because the judge says that it is not in our constitution. It is a very strange thing. But while we are appealing, we have started to implement the court order and that is why some members who were suspended are here and participating,” Chirwa said.
Chaos looms as Numsa delegates arrive for interdicted congress
He also launched a broadside at Numsa Western Cape regional secretary, Vuyo Lufele, who staged a walk-out from the congress after officials maintained that it could go ahead despite the interdict. He accused those opposing the congress’ resumption of looking to collapse the union itself.
“How can you have the guts to stand up at a Numsa gathering and tell the union that it cannot hold its congress. Not only that but to lead shop stewards of this union in your region out of a gathering of a union. That can’t be tolerated. If you behave like a spy, we will treat you like a spy,” Chirwa said.
Chirwa told delegates that the suspended officials were offered flights to get to Cape Town and participate in the congress. However, he said, many of them did not take up this offer.
“We will exercise patience with those members, especially the shop stewards. It is clear that some are responding under pressure because their funders want to see the results of their work, so they are desperate to collapse the congress,” he said.
Meanwhile, lawyers of the suspended Numsa officials sent a letter of demand to the union on Monday requesting the minutes of the SCC meeting and the credential committee meeting which took place before the congress began.
For More News And Analysis About South-Africa Follow Africa-Press
