The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) is scrambling to contain fallout after its 15th National Congress was abruptly adjourned on Tuesday night, with the federation admitting it faced a “difficult and painful moment” and pleading for unity to save the federation.
COSATU spokesperson Matthew Parks confirmed that its congress – its highest decision-making body – had been adjourned and would only reconvene in 30 days, to allow space to address internal matters before resuming business.
“The Congress of South African Trade Unions has taken the difficult decision to adjourn its 15th National Congress following extensive engagements within the leadership of the affiliates,” the federation said.
COSATU is at pains to present the adjournment as a responsible act to protect unity, rather than what insiders say it was: a congress collapsing under the weight of factional battles, quorum problems and affiliate tensions that have been simmering for months.
“The adjournment comes at a difficult and painful moment in the life of the Federation. However, the decision has been taken in the interests of protecting the unity, integrity and organisational strength of COSATU. There are no winners when COSATU is divided,” it said.
COSATU invoked Clause 3.4 of its constitution, which provides that where quorum is not met, the meeting must stand adjourned to a time and place decided upon by the President, provided that the meeting must be held within one month.
“The decision was taken in accordance with COSATU’s constitutional clauses governing the adjournment of the National Congress. Clause 3.4 of our Constitution holds that where quorum is not met, the meeting must stand adjourned to a time and place decided upon by the President, provided that the meeting must be held within (1) month,” the statement said.
The federation said its Central Executive Committee would meet urgently to address issues and embark on “necessary constitutional, political and logistical preparations” for the congress to reconvene.
The 15th Congress was expected to thrash out COSATU’s stance on the Government of National Unity, the ANC’s performance, wage battles and job losses.
Instead, delegates left without electing leadership or adopting a programme.
COSATU’s leadership appealed for discipline.
“COSATU calls on all affiliates to approach the reconvening of Congress in the spirit of comradeship, discipline and collective responsibility. We must be prepared to listen to each other and to disagree whilst remembering the priority is to defend workers and advance the interest of the working class.
Unity is not only demonstrated when we agree; it is tested most when we disagree,” it said.
In a pointed reminder of what is at stake, the federation said workers did not send leaders to congress to fight each other.
“It is crucial to keep in mind that workers sent us to Congress to fight unemployment, poverty and inequality, exploitation, retrenchments and the rising cost of living; and to defend jobs, decent wages, public services and the dignity of the working class,” the statement read.
“COSATU belongs to the mineworker, the teacher, the nurse, the doctors, the police officer, the farm worker, the municipal worker, the retail worker, textile workers, domestic workers and every worker who places their trust in this Federation. We are merely its custodians.”
The adjournment is the second time in recent history COSATU has been forced to stop a congress mid-stream to prevent a split. The federation warned history would judge this moment.
“We must work to ensure that when history looks back on this moment, it must reflect that when COSATU faced a difficult moment, its leaders and delegates had the courage and wisdom to put the Federation and the interests of workers above themselves.”
For now, the federation’s biggest rallying cry is survival.
“COSATU is bigger than any one of us. We must protect it. We must unite it. We must strengthen it. We must hand it over to the next generation stronger than we found it,” it said.
