Cosatu’s vote a close call

Cosatu delegates will vote on the position of deputy general secretary on Wednesday. Picture: Matthews Baloyi

Cosatu delegates will vote on the position of deputy general secretary on Wednesday. Picture: Matthews Baloyi

Published Nov 25, 2015

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Johannesburg - Cosatu members attending the federation’s congress in Midrand will today elect a new deputy general secretary, with senior unionists confirming the vote is too close to call.

Delegates will choose between long serving Cosatu North West secretary Solly Phetoe, and Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) deputy general secretary Oscar Phaka.

Despite his popularity within the federation, Phetoe nearly dropped from the running yesterday after the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu), which nominated him, lost the backing of its fellow affiliates.

According to sources, the Sadtu national executive committee insisted he should stick it out and later received support from the SA Clothing and Textile Workers Union.

Unions which had initially considered Phetoe for the position had revoked their support because of his past association with axed Cosatu general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi. They wanted to act cautiously when electing the new leader as they wanted to avoid past mistakes which had led to the federation almost splintering.

However, Phetoe refuted any links to Vavi yesterday, saying those who viewed him as a “Vavi sympathiser” were wrong.

Phetoe is well known for leading campaigns for workers, including strikes against Sun City and the ongoing protests against the Swartruggens toll gate.

Meanwhile, his contender, Phaka, was criticised by some within the federation who believed Denosa was “dumping” him on the federation. He is said to have been the sole voice which spoke strongly against Denosa’s resolution to side with the National Union of Metalworkers of SA and Vavi.

Phaka’s appointment to his current position was allegedly challenged by the union’s Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal structures.

“It’s not because there’s something extraordinary about him,” said a union leader, who did not want to be named.

Phaka was considered the stronger candidate as he had the backing of most unions, but because of divisions, some felt the vote would be evenly split within individual unions.

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