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EWN reports that National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) president Andrew Chirwa has defended the union's decision to spend close to R40 million to convene its congress at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
Numsa, which has cash flow problems due to a variety of reasons, sponsored flights for over 1,000 delegates to the Mother City for its eleventh congress, going against its own resolution to spend moderate amounts on such gatherings and to look for cheaper and more central venues. However, when addressing the congress during his opening speech on Wednesday, Chirwa said this was justified as they were merely trying to comply with "Covid-19 restrictions". Numsa, which has failed to submit its audited financial statements to the Department of Labour since 2018, as obliged by law, said those who viewed the Cape Town trip as a “holiday” were wrong. He explained: “Because when we planned the conference, there was lockdown and we had to look for the best convenient venue to Covid-19 regulations.” Numsa members are some of the hardest hit by business cut-backs in various industries, but Chirwa said the expense was justified. Delegates spent at least two days milling around the city after the congress was interdicted. Numsa’s 2012 congress resolved that the union should dramatically reduce spending on expensive hotels by opting for guest houses instead. However, at the present congress, delegates are being accommodated in four and five-star hotels.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Theto Mahlakoana at EWN
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