GroundUp reports that former deputy president of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) Ruth Ntlokotse has launched an urgent application to the Gauteng High Court to declare her expulsion from the union unlawful and invalid.

Ntlokotse, who is currently president of the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), says in her court papers that her “unfair” suspension and expulsion from Numsa means that she could lose her position at Saftu. She says that she has been stripped of the ability to be protected by a union while facing retrenchment, and that her “rights to fair labour practice” and “rights in terms of the Numsa constitution to a fair process have all been affected”. She wants to be “reinstated as an ordinary member and thus a shop steward as elected by the workers.” Ntlokotse has been outspoken against leadership at Numsa, including general secretary Irvin Jim. She said during a press conference last month that the current Numsa leadership was corrupt and was not acting in the interest of its members. In her urgent application, set for 24 August, Ntlokotse also wants the court to finalise two other matters before the Labour Court and the Labour Appeal Court. Both matters concern the union’s national congress which took place in July 2022. Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Majola said “we will oppose the application and defend the organisation and its decision (to expel Ntlokotse).”

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Liezl Human at GroundUp

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