Cosatu's imploding due to ideological and political difference: Numsa

The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) is in a permanent state of paralysis, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) said on Wednesday.

"It is busy imploding due to ideological and political difference that have rendered it into a permanent state of paralysis," Numsa deputy general secretary Karl Cloete said.

He was presenting the union's declaration at its bargaining conference, where it was resolved to demand a double digit increase.

He said Cosatu had failed to implement its 11th national congress resolutions.

"Since the suspension of general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi Cosatu has not implemented even a single resolution."

Numsa was committed to the unity of Cosatu on condition that unity did not undermine the resolutions of the 11th national congress.

"Cosatu national office bearers are busy preparing for a seat in the National Assembly. Some of them are already out to provincial legislatures and the national Parliament."

He said Cosatu, the African National Congress, and the SA Communist Party spearheaded a campaign to destabilise Numsa.

In KwaZulu-Natal, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula was expected to lead a team to Toyota on March 17 armed with T-shirts reading "I am Numsa, I am voting ANC", Cloete said.

Numsa resolved at its national special congress in December that it would not support the ANC or any political party in the May 7 elections and that it would not fund the ANC election campaign.

It also called for Cosatu to break away from the tripartite alliance with the ANC and SACP.

"Should they use our logo on those T-shirts, Numsa will sue them to the last cent," said Cloete.

"The time has come for us to take on our enemies; they are no longer underground they are now on the surface," he said to applause from delegates.

"We do not have to treat them with kid gloves... We must use the hard steel until it bends."

Cosatu and Numsa have been at loggerheads since Vavi's suspension. Numsa wants the suspension to be lifted and has led eight other unions in Cosatu calling for a special national conference of Cosatu.

In return Cosatu has called on Numsa to explain why it should not be suspended or expelled from the federation.

On Monday Cloete said Numsa has submitted a 59-page document to Cosatu explaining its reasons to remain in Cosatu.

Cosatu president Sidumo Dlamini said it would cost R10 million to hold a special national conference.