The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) is embroiled in a deepening leadership crisis, with General Secretary Irvin Jim and regional leaders trading suspensions. Jim has written to the regional leaders, who he claims have been suspended, demanding written representations on why their membership should not be terminated. This move comes after the regional leaders announced that they had suspended Jim and other national office bearers, including President Andrew Chirwa, on charges of dereliction of duty and gross violations of the Numsa constitution.
The regional leaders, who represent various provinces including the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Mpumalanga, claim that their executive committee had resolved to suspend the national office bearers. They also announced that they had stripped Jim and Chirwa of their powers and replaced them with a task-coordinating team. However, Jim has hit back, stating that the task team has no authority to speak on behalf of the union, as the central committee meeting that made the decision was not validly convened.
The power struggle within Numsa has been ongoing, with the regional leaders defying Jim's instruction to cancel a central committee meeting scheduled for October 23-25. The meeting, which is the highest decision-making body between national congresses, went ahead despite Jim's letter. The dispute arose from a ruling by Labour Court Judge Edwin Tlhotlhalemaje, who prevented Numsa from barring delegates from Mpumalanga from attending and voting at committee meetings.
The crisis has its roots in events at the Mpumalanga regional congress on June 29 and 30. A shop steward complained that the process used to select delegates was unlawful, leading Jim to question the status of the regional congress and the delegates elected. Numsa's president, Chirwa, then announced that the central committee would reconvene without the Mpumalanga delegates, prompting Mpumalanga regional chair Nkosinathi Makhanya to approach the courts for relief.
The court ruling found that Chirwa had "usurped the powers of the CC, acted ultra vires, and put the cart before the horse." The judge's interdict forced Numsa to allow the Mpumalanga delegation to participate in committee meetings. Despite this, the regional leaders and Jim have continued to trade suspensions, with Jim's letter demanding written representations from the regional leaders.
The ongoing crisis has raised concerns about the credibility of Numsa, a key affiliate of the South African Federation of Trade Unions. At its peak before its expulsion from Cosatu in November 2014, Numsa had around 360,000 members, making it the largest affiliate. The union is expected to hold its national congress later this month, where a new national leadership will be elected.
The counter-suspensions and power struggle have created uncertainty within the union, with the outcome likely to have significant implications for Numsa's future. The union's national congress, set to take place later this month, will be closely watched as it attempts to elect a new leadership and address the internal divisions that have plagued it in recent months.
Key points
- Numsa's leadership crisis deepens with factions trading suspensions amid allegations of constitutional breaches and power struggles.
