Fin24 reports that Irvin Jim, general secretary of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), has accused the leadership of the union's umbrella federation, the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), of trying to influence, and even sabotage its national congress.

Jim was addressing Numsa members at the union's interdicted national congress on Wednesday evening. Later that evening he was re-elected unopposed as the union's secretary-general. Numsa held its congress despite a Labour Court (LC) interdict ordering the union to lift the suspensions of members and ensure, before proceeding, thatit could hold a congress consistent with its own constitution. Numsa's appeal against the ruling was heard on an urgent basis at the LC on Wednesday and was unsuccessful. The initial LC case was initiated by Numsa's second deputy president Ruth Ntlokotse, who had wanted her suspension overturned. She claimed she was suspended to keep her from running for Numsa president at the congress. Andrew Chirwa ran for the position unopposed and was elected. In May, Ntlokotse was elected Saftu president at the federation's congress. Jim said the relationship between Saftu and Numsa – its biggest member union – had become so fraught that the federation was working to undermine the leadership of the union. "We never thought that ahead of a Numsa congress, this movement that we catalysed, we would be undermined… The leadership of Saftu has been reckless and arrogant. When you talk about interference, they look to do as they please," said Jim.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24

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