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Johannesburg - The fact that Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has agreed to be the first guest speaker at the National Union of Metalworkers (Numsa) congress starting in Cape Town on Monday should cause considerable comment - and ensure much media interest. Given the ongoing factionalism within the governing alliance, what he says will be closely listened to and analysed.
That he has agreed to speak is, in itself, significant and will almost certainly be seen widely as part of the growing move to have President Jacob Zuma step down.
While Numsa may agree with ousting Zuma, the union is already on record bitterly opposing the accession of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to the top job.
The second prominent guest speaker billed is Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel, a former clothing and textile workers’ union (Sactwu) general secretary.
Sactwu remains very much in the Cosatu fold and supported the expulsion of Numsa from the federation. His remarks from the podium may give an indication of the possibly shifting alliances within the labour movement.
Former Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi is also scheduled, in his role as convenor of the steering committee for a new labour federation, to deliver a message of support to the congress.
This is likely to promote the putative federation as a vehicle for greater “principled” unity of the labour movement. What is also likely to attract interest is the fact that former public protector Thuli Madonsela has agreed to be the guest speaker at the union's gala dinner on Thursday night.
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