Sunday Independent reports that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) has suspended its deputy president, Mosibo Joni, and its national organiser, Neo Mankge, as the battle for the soul of the powerful union rages.  

According to sources, Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa advised union members during a roadshow last week that Joni and Mankge had been suspended, but gave no reasons for the decision.  Apparently, the signs of trouble started showing when Joni was barred from assuming the deputy president’s responsibilities after being elected at the Amcu national conference in September last year.  Instead, Mathunjwa allegedly told him that he would start on 6 January this year.  According to a source, Joni was denied access to Amcu’s headquarters in eMalahleni when he tried to report for duty on 6 January.  It seems he was told that he was under suspension even though no charge had been brought against him.  Two members of the Amcu central executive committee (CEC) claimed that Mathunjwa sidelined Joni out of fears that he might succeed him as Amcu president since Mathunjwa did not qualify for the position by virtue of not being an employee of a company in the sector, as required by section 213 of the LRA.  In a letter dated 24 August 2018, the labour department warned Amcu about the illegality of electing ineligible persons as senior leaders.  A source commented:  “Mathunkwa is well aware that he is going to be removed from his powerful position by the labour registrar.  What he wants to do is to make sure that there is no deputy president who will assume the duties of president.  Constitutionally, he will be recommended by the CEC to become the general secretary and he will still control Amcu.”  On Friday, the labour registrar advised that there was an engagement between Amcu and the department over Mathunjwa’s eligibility for office and other matters.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kenneth Mokgatlhe on page 4 of The Sunday Independent of 26 January 2020

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