South Africa’s largest labour federation, COSATU, has confirmed that its collapsed and adjourned 15th National Congress on Tuesday incurred an estimated cost of R12 million.
The four-day elective congress, which was being held at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, collapsed due to a lack of a constitutional quorum.
This followed a deadlock over the precautionary suspension of COSATU’s first deputy president, Mike Shingange, by his own union, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU), just days before the congress.
The federation’s Secretary-General, Solly Phetoe, said that the Central Executive Committee (CEC) would have to convene urgently to address the financial fallout, re-strategise its budget and finalise logistical preparations to reconvene the congress within the constitutionally mandated 30-day period.
“We went all out to engage several Good Samaritans who had generously agreed to sponsor us for this congress.
“However, as you know, that has now all gone to waste following the collapse of the event.
“We had already paid for flights, venue hire, catering and hotel accommodation for our members and visitors, as well as general transport costs.
“In total, these expenses amounted to R12 million,” said Phetoe.
Despite the setback, Phetoe expressed confidence that the congress would reconvene within the constitutionally mandated timeframe.
He stated that the federation’s president would have to call the gathering, adding that he intended to write to all 21 affiliated unions to inform them.
Phetoe warned that the unions must attend the congress or it would proceed without them.
“The constitution is clear in this respect: the affiliates, no matter their number, who attend this reconvened congress will automatically form a quorum, irrespective of whether they constitute two-thirds of the affiliates or not.
“If those affiliates who withheld their credentials do not hand them over, the congress will still proceed because we must ultimately elect leadership,” Phetoe emphasised.
Meanwhile, the Labour Court ruled in favour of Shingange on Tuesday evening, declaring that his provisional suspension by NEHAWU did not prevent him from attending, participating in or contesting elections at the congress.
Shingange intends to run for the position of COSATU president, a position he previously held in 2021, and for which he is tipped to win.
However, it has been conjectured that the fallout stems from a growing conflict between the other alliance partners, the SACP and the ANC, over the upcoming local government elections, which the SACP has decided to contest independently.
