Johannesburg - Voting for the deputy general secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) started at the federation’s elective congress in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Cosatu North West provincial secretary Solly Phetoe is contesting the election with Oscar Phaka from the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa).
The deputy general secretary position is the only executive position being contested at Cosatu’s 12th congress in Midrand. The other five positions of the top six executive were uncontested.
Acting general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali was nominated unopposed to fill the position of the federation’s general secretary. He has been acting in the position since the former general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi was fired.
Sidumo Dlamini (president), Tyotyo James (first deputy president), Zingiswa Losi (second deputy president) and Freda Oosthuizen (treasurer) were also uncontested.
Delegates supporting Phetoe’s bid were split about the merits of putting their man forward for the national leadership position ahead of the Wednesday afternoon vote.
“Comrade Phetoe has done a good job in North West. He stood for the vulnerable workers and is able to lead campaigns. Voting him to go to head office will collapse the North West province. I do not see any person able to fill his shoes to run the affairs of Cosatu in North West,” said a delegate from the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
“I know we cannot keep him forever in North West. I hope once he is in national office, he would be able to use his expertise for the benefit of the whole Cosatu.”
Another delegate from the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) said he too suapported Phetoe, but was also worried the North West province would collapse if he was taken to national structures.
“Comrade Solly has been leading campaigns in the North West, including a campaign against the Swartruggens toll gate, the exploitation of farm workers and retail workers. He is always there for them. I only hope he will bring that culture of serving union members to head office. For every Moses, there is a Joshua,” he said.
Unions were set to cast votes in alphabetical order, with the Chemical, Energy, Paper Printing Wood and Allied Workers Union’s (Ceppwawu) 112 delegates being the first. They would be followed by the Communication Workers Union (CWU). The last group to cast votes would be delegates from the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu).
Voting would be conduct through a secret ballot, with 2 484 delegates expected to vote. The results were expected to be released on Thursday.
African News Agency
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