Numsa, Cosatu in ultimatum standoff

Johannesburg - The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has responded to an ultimatum by the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) with an ultimatum of its own.

Cosatu has requested that Numsa provide reasons about why it should not be suspended or expelled. But the metalworkers' union responded on Monday saying that it will only engage with the trade union federation when it received certain documentation.

"There are certain things we have requested from Cosatu, such as the attendance register and the minutes [of the special central executive committee meeting]," spokesperson Castro Ngobese said.

Not the first

He said that Numsa is not the first union of Cosatu to withdraw support for the ANC in the upcoming elections. "[Those unions were] never requested to explain themselves."

Ngobese said Numsa suspected that a faction within Cosatu, led by president Sidumo Dlamini, intended ensuring the union was expelled from the trade union federation.

Cosatu and Numsa have been at loggerheads since general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi was suspended for having an affair with a junior employee.

Union strife

Numsa and nine other Cosatu affiliates asked that Cosatu hold a special national congress. The special CEC denied this request earlier this month.

The special CEC also decided to give Numsa an ultimatum following resolutions it had taken at its special congress last year. Cosatu wanted Numsa to explain why it should not be suspended or expelled.

Numsa and eight other affiliates boycotted the special CEC.

"We boycotted the special CEC because the meeting was used... to embarrass the general secretary of Cosatu [Vavi]. We remain firmly behind him," he said.

Cosatu was holding a three-day CEC meeting in Johannesburg on Monday. Ngobese said Numsa was attending the meeting.