Mail & Guardian reports that ousted Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) branch leaders are taking their battle with the “autocratic” union leadership to court.  

A notice of motion filed in the North West division of the high court shows that former leaders of Amcu’s Impala Bafokeng North branch have applied to the court to set aside their dismissal, which they say was unprocedural.  Ex-branch secretary Sizwe Nkosi, the first applicant in the motion, is joined in his application by the other members of the former top six at the branch.  According to the branch officials, they were removed in October because they resisted instructions from the national office to transfer members’ retirement savings to the controversial Igula Umbrella Provident Fund.  Trustees of the Impala Worker Provident Fund who did not support the transfer have been intimidated and dismissed, a statement by the officials claimed.  Another cause for concern for the former branch officials is that union president Joseph Mathunjwa has allegedly installed himself as chairperson of the Igula fund.  In his affidavit to the court, Nkosi said they feared another “VBS situation”.  “Nobody can question the national office … When you do so, you become unpopular.  When you do so, you are removed from office.  We were told that we must not ask questions,” Nkosi said.  The former branch leaders have aligned themselves with expelled Amcu deputy president Sanele Myeza, who was dismissed earlier this year and who has referred the matter to the CCMA.

• Read the full original of this report by Sarah Smit at Mail & Guardian

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