TimesLive reports that Numsa leader Irvin Jim and his union drew first blood in his tussle with Saftu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi for the soul of the trade union federation.

In a dramatic start to the organisation’s conference in Ekurhuleni, Jim opposed the conference being chaired by Saftu acting president Atwell Nazo. Jim argued there was no mention of “acting” in the Saftu constitution and insisted that the federation’s first deputy president Nomvume Ralarala should conduct the opening in the absence of suspended president Mac Chavalala. Unions supporting Vavi moved that the conference be opened by Nazo as he had been installed as acting president by a national executive committee meeting (NEC) at which Numsa had been present. Vavi tried to intervene, accusing Numsa of wanting to collapse the conference, a move Jim dismissed on the spot. After a protracted debate, it was concluded that the national office bearers should make the decision. With that, Jim emerged victorious as Ralarala took to the podium to chair and open the congress to loud cheers from the Numsa section. Numsa is Saftu’s largest affiliate and has 40% of the 708 voting delegates attending the elective conference. Jim and Vavi have been at each other’s throats in recent months over the direction Saftu should take. After national office bearers attempted earlier this year to suspend Vavi, they were in turn suspended at an NEC meeting in late March. One of the suspended officials, Vavi’s deputy Moleko Phakedi, will this week make a challenge for the top position.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mawande AmaShabalala at TimesLive
• Read too, The future of SA's labour movement at stake at critical Saftu conference, at Fin24

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