The election of new leaders would usher in a "new chapter" in the life of Cosatu, the beleaguered labour union federation's president, Sidumo Dlamini, declared yesterday. Dlamini was re-elected unopposed, along with Bheki Ntshalintshali (general secretary), James Tyotyo (1st deputy president), Zingiswa Losi (2nd deputy president) and Freda Oosthuysen (treasurer general) at Cosatu's four-day congress in Midrand, north of Johannesburg.Solly Phetoe, outgoing Cosatu North West secretary and known ally of ousted Zwelinzima Vavi - whose expulsion was confirmed yesterday - was elected deputy general secretary. Dlamini assured Phetoe, "you are welcome" as a national office bearer.Cosatu has been in the wars since its last congress in 2012, at which a negotiated leadership emerged which has since been blamed for its woes.Dlamini yesterday moved to assure delegates "this congress has laid a firm foundation for Cosatu".But not so, according to Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) general secretary Katishi Masemola. Masemola downplayed Dlamini's declarations of unity as an over-enthusiastic description of what really transpired."We need to be very candid with ourselves. To say that we have emerged from this congress united would, frankly, be burying our heads in the sand," said Masemola.Among contentious issues at the congress that would have created divisions were the unsuccessful appeal of Vavi and the ousting of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA.Fawu and the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) argued in vain for Vavi and Numsa's expulsions not be upheld, but the two unions were outnumbered by the sheer majority of delegates who no longer wanted them back in the Cosatu fold...