Regional leaders of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) are demanding a special meeting to scrutinize General Secretary Irvin Jim's conduct, accusing national office-bearers of ignoring their request. In a letter dated September 21, the leaders, representing a majority of Numsa's national executive committee (NEC), set a September 23 deadline for the meeting. Sedibeng regional secretary Kabelo Ramokhathali confirmed that no response has been received yet. The letter warns that if the meeting is not convened, the leaders will exercise their rights to do so themselves or approach the courts.
The demand for a special meeting follows allegations against Jim, including financial impropriety, labour law violations, and fostering a culture of intimidation. A former leader, Ruth Ntlokotse, accused Jim of these wrongdoings in February and demanded that he explain whether he was receiving donor funds to "subvert worker democracy". Ntlokotse also called for a comprehensive forensic lifestyle audit, criticizing Jim's "authoritarian" leadership style and accusing him of trampling on democratic centralism.
The proposed agenda for the special NEC meeting includes Jim's conduct, alleged threats and assaults on regional leaders, irregular suspension of the Sedibeng regional secretary, and blocking of regional congresses. The regional leaders also cited the failure of national office bearers to convene national constitutional meetings as demanded by the constitution. According to the Numsa constitution, the NEC is required to meet once every three months, but no meeting has been convened in the past 18 months.
The regional leaders, from the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Sedibeng, and JC Bez (Johannesburg) region, stated that they had initially requested a meeting on August 27, 2026, and received no response. They described the lack of response as a "deliberate act intended to frustrate the regions that must proceed to their regional congresses". Numsa, with over 460,000 members, is an affiliate of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu).
If the special NEC meeting is convened by the regional leaders themselves, they warned that the resolutions taken will be made public through a press statement and media briefing. The letter constitutes a final demand before exercising their rights to convene the meeting or approach the courts. Numsa spokesperson Mbali Ngwenda and Jim were approached for comment but did not respond.
The internal conflict within Numsa has been ongoing, with a resolution by the central committee calling for a return to Cosatu triggering deep divisions within the union's top leadership and regional structures. Analysts said the resolution, championed by Jim, marked the end of his credibility in the union movement and could "mark the beginning of the end of his long period as general secretary of the country's largest union".
The suspended CEO of the Numsa Investment Company, Khandani Msibi, has challenged the union to convene its central committee to explain how Jim came to own a 60% stake in the investment company. The outcome of the demand for a special meeting and the internal conflict within Numsa remains to be seen.
Key points
- Numsa leaders demand a special meeting to scrutinize General Secretary Irvin Jim's conduct.
- The demand follows allegations of financial impropriety, labour law violations, and fostering a culture of intimidation.
- The regional leaders may convene the meeting themselves or approach the courts if their demand is not met.
