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Johannesburg - About 15 members of the police, dressed in civilian clothes, guarded the entrance to the Cosatu special national congress, Netwerk24 reported on Monday.
They checked the accreditation of media as well as delegates to ensure no uninvited people entered the hall.
Two people confirmed to Netwerk24 that they are members of the police, but they did not want to say from which unit. One of them, identified by the others as the one in charge, reacted in a threatening manner when Netwerk24 tried to question him further. He told the Netwerk24 journalist Jan de Lange: "I will take you out."
This man wore a white shirt and black suit, but had nothing to identify him as a member of the South African Police Service (Saps).
The National Union of Metalworkers (Numsa) said on Sunday it fears the "militarisation" of the congress and that Cosatu members who support Numsa and suspended general secretary Zwelenzima Vavi could be thrown out by force, just like the Economic Freedom Fighters were thrown out of Parliament in February by members of the police wearing white shirts.
On Monday, the atmosphere in the hall was laden with expectation of fireworks when the agenda of the congress came up.
Unity and leadership in Cosatu are currently the only two matters on the agenda, but the eight so-called rebel unions want Numsa and Vavi's suspension to be added to the matters up for discussion.
Cosatu spokesperson Norman Mampane said Cosatu and Saps had asked for additional support, because the congress is seen as a "medium risk" event since Government officials are attending.
He confirmed that the men in civilian clothers are police, but did not want to say from which unit.
When government leaders attend a Cosatu congress the security measures are prescribed by them, said Mampane.
Baleka Mbete, Speaker of the National Assembly, is due to deliver a speech at the congress.
"[She] is not just an ordinary person. The position she holds in the country requires that where she is going, she should indeed be safe," he said.
Mampane insisted that there is nothing unusual about the police presence. He did not give a direct answer to a question about whether force would be used to remove delegates who disrupt the congress, but did say disruption is contrary to the rules of the congress.
"Violence is not part of our internal democracy. The discretion of the chairpersons in terms of improper conduct will always be used and we believe it has never happened in the history of Cosatu," he said.
* For more business news in Afrikaans: www.netwerk24.com/sake
