As it happened: Cosatu not going to split - Popcru

Limusa: We also think its important that SNC talk to the anti-privatisation campaign.

We think its important that Cosatu engage as to how its own provident funds are utilised.

Limusa done.

Limusa: We need to reflect on working to unite the affiliates of the federation.

"As Limusa we feel 2015 plan was the best decision, we need thorough work leading to the congress.

"We want to highlight relationship between campaigns and unity...especially campaigns between CWU and Telkom and MTN..."

Safpu: we are sitting with a Cosatu who is not able to do anything.

Limusa is next...

Samwu says it is a tendency of Cosatu not to take the issues of women seriously...unity is process and is a shared responsibility.

Samwu done. Two more speakers. Dlamini giving them 2 min each.

Popcru condemns what is happening at the NPA, says it has called for debate on transformation of the judiciary...says judiciary used to fight what cannot be achieved through the ballot.

Samwu next. Dlamini says they have 2 min.

Popcru: If anyone/affiliate who flouts principles of federation steps need to be taken.

This federation is not going to split. If people intend to leave its not a split. Federation is in tact.

Popcru says CEC should be applauded for guarding federation's principles.

...speaks about a statement by some unions saying there will be litigation processes after SNC.

...takes on Fawu, appreciates it went through labour pains but says not a license to destroy the federation.

Dlamini says there were no elections yesterday so can't be question of free and fair. 

Popcru next...

Fawu at the stand: When this federation was built 30 years ago, Fawu had labour pains. Fawu did not apply for membership.

We want to correct the perception that Fawu does not like Dlamini we want to correct that...

Fawu says wants to demystify the notion that SNC is not a constitutional structure

Sasbo says there is also an issue of trust...

 "Let us assist in building trust among members of Cosatu..."

Finance union Sasbo up next...

"We are coming from a school that love is caring, patient. An injury to one is an injury to all. We've lost touch..."

"If we insist on behaving how we are behaving we can forget about unity..."

Nehawu condemns 9-plus unions for holding parallel press conferences. And hopes there will only be one press conference after the Special Congress.

Dlamini backs Nehawu's criticism of the pro-Numsa booklet that was distributed. Says congress must protect logos and colours.

Nehawu: Special Congress must condemn some unions coming as a federation within a federation. Must investigate this document.

As we move toward national congress we must close gaps in the constitution.

Nehawu delegate wants the Cosatu CEC to probe who distributed a pro-Numsa booklet at the congress. Calls it anarchy.

Satawu delegate questions why Vavi didn't just go to a low cost hotel - says they [should] rubber stamp the CEC decision to expel him.

Nehawu next to give input to the Special Congress.

Satawu: when two people have sex in the office, [we] can't say it's politics. Why should the constitution not apply even if he says sorry.

Vavi wouldn't have kept quiet if a CEO of Transnet had sex in the office. But Vavi refuses to be corrected.

South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) delegate says Cosatu is still relevant and correct.

Defends voting as a practice. Part of the principles of the federation.

Cosatu runs by workers' mandates. We were sober when we expelled Numsa. Rubber stamp the decision today.

We must condemn each other in a building way. Condemn unions who boycotted CEC should come back home.

Denosa summary: will fight for Numsa and Vavi in Cosatu but they are committed to the federation. Not going anywhere.

Denosa delegate is done - next up is SATAWU.

Denosa says unity needs to be based on programmes and campaigns which benefit members.

Denosa asks that the principle of democratic centralism be inclusive and not be reduced to just voting.

Denosa against Limusa because it means Numsa can't be reinstated.

Denosa takes the podium...

"We are not following some yet to be formed political party and want to dispel this myth."

Denosa delegate says they might not be 100% happy with the discussion document, they see it more as a draft.

Denosa: didn't just call for Special Congress to waste workers money. Will also never disrupt processes. It was a principled call.

CWU: we need a Section 77 notice for a one day strike to raise the issues of corruption and privatisation.

Dlamini must stop talking badly about them through the media

Delegate from the Communication Workers Union up... says their sector faces a "bloodbath of retrenchments".

Says they come here to "politic" and forget main goal, which is to fight for workers.

Workers will want to know what decisions have been taken on their behalf here - Programme must start today to fight for workers.

We must also start raising issues on corruption and not keep quiet.

Sasawu: Numsa is not only union that extended its scope, other unions have and they have not been dealt with for extending scope.

Delegate turns to the discussion document - says there is something concerning there - reads from it.

Sasawu asks if a decision been made to deal with those that boycotted CEC.

Sasawu delegates: issue of leadership needed to be addressed...comments made by Dlamini about unions using subscription money to fight Cosatu were wrong.

Sasawu delegate: Addressing President Sidumo Dlamini saying his speech earlier did not deal with unity - but created a bigger divide.

...unions that stayed away from CEC (aligned to Numsa) are treated like enemies.

Sasawu says the treatment of these unions have "shown us what kind of a leader you are"

Sadtu delegate says she doesn't think talks of unity will succeed if we don't deal with gender struggles.

As women we are in the majority. I as a women, I am disappointed in the CEC of Cosatu.

Caluza from Sadtu: Let us unite our affiliates so we can restore unity in our federation.

We want a discussion document on gender struggles

Delegate ends with a loud applause.

Sadtu delegate talking about how gender issues have not been discussed.

As a women, we Cosatu have not discussed gender issues, especially after what happened at Cosatu house.

NUM: need to eliminate criminal element in transport sector in the country.

NUM delegate also speaking about Brics and how it needs to benefit them. The development bank must be revolutionary.

NUM delegate dealing with the economy - how wealth and employment is created here - also making use of natural resources.

"We want government to claim our stolen natural resources, mining companies take our platinum to Europe."

NUM says the only way to fight poverty, unemployment and inequality is through quality jobs. Should be through Brics.

NUM delegate warns unless something changes socio-economically, there'll be an army of people revolting against government.

SACCAWU: we are all affiliates that take mandate and take exception to being called "affiliate of an affiliate"...

Says the discussion document falls short of why they are having these talks - not dealing with issues...

What we can't win at the table, we will win it at the streets but this is where we've failed.

Weed a more systematic way to take up issues such as unemployment.

The prime thrust of Cosatu president S’dumo Dlamini’s opening speech at the delayed Cosatu special congress was about the unity of the ANC-led alliance.

He maintained that metalworkers’ union Numsa was attacking both the federation and the alliance.

According to Dlamini the special congress had been convened to “strengthen the alliance”. And he referred to “those unions who call themselves Numsa allies, to set themselves free” from the”embrace” of Numsa.

“Don’t be a slave to another union,” he declared to loud applause from the majority of the delegates.

The ANC is deeply concerned about the divisions in Cosatu and the possible loss of organisational and financial support from the country’s largest labour federation.

It was for this reason that pressure was put on the Cosatu executive to use a secret ballot at the special national congress in Midrand and to hold out an olive branch to the National Union of Metalworkers (Numsa), which has been expelled by the executive.

Leaders of the nine unions that initiated the demand for a Cosatu special national congress will be meeting on Wednesday in Johannesburg for a post mortem on a congress that they feel extremely aggrieved about.

They question the “authoritarian way” the congress was handled by the chairperson, the trade federation's first deputy president Tyotyo James, and the the manner in which the “entire process”, including the voting, was conducted.

Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini has admitted that in the past the federation's leaders had not intervened objectively when unions had problems, but rather exploited divisions.

National office bearers had done some "wrong things" in the past when it came to affiliates, he told delegates during his opening address on the second day of the federation's special national congress.

Mbete to Cosatu: You dare not fail. History will never forgive you if you fail.

Mbete finishes... "long live Cosatu, long live the alliance"

Mbete: we must emerge from this Special Congress, united and ready to defend the working class. Standing on shoulders of giants.

...challenges we face on the ground need all of us, lets not forsake our duties and defend [the] working class.

Mbete talking about mobilising young people so that they carry the baton of liberation for themselves and future generations.

The alliance partners have to play a critical role in strengthening local sphere of government...

"We need to make sure local government delivers quality services to our people - let us stand ready to defend the revolutionary days..."

Mbete: Trade unions should be at the centre of building the capacity of the state...