SowetanLive writes that the election last week of a National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) leadership that is said to be sympathetic to Zwelinzima Vavi has fuelled talks of a possible merger between the Cosatu affiliate and the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa).  

A slate led by incumbent NUM general secretary David Sipunzi swept the floor at the national congress in a leadership race that saw the pro-Luthuli House faction, led by outgoing president Piet Matosa, lose control of NUM.  Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim observed that the developments opened up the possibility of a merger between NUM and his union.  Numsa was expelled from Cosatu for "stealing members" from the NUM and for refusing to campaign for the ANC ahead of the 2014 general elections.  Matosa was among the NUM leaders who backed Numsa's expulsion.  Sipunzi was said to be among those who advised against it.  He was also seen as sympathetic to then Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, who later joined forces with Numsa to form the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu).  Although rivals, NUM and Numsa have worked closely in recent weeks fighting Eskom over hike wages.  On Sunday, NUM spokesman Livhuwani Mammburu would not entertain talks of a merger, but said Numsa should be brought back into Cosatu.

• Read this report by Ngwako Modjadji in full at SowetanLive

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