- Mike Shingange won Cosatu’s presidency 973 votes to 836 over Mabutho Cele at its congress in Kempton Park on Wednesday.
- Zingiswa Losi beat Solly Phetoe 996 votes to 809 to become general secretary, the first woman to hold the post.
Mike Shingange is the new president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu). He won 973 votes at the federation’s national congress in Kempton Park, beating Mabutho Cele, who got 836. Shingange won by 137 votes.
A total of 1,816 eligible delegates took part. There were three spoiled ballots and four abstentions in the presidential vote.
Zingiswa Losi, the outgoing president, was elected general secretary. She beat the incumbent, Solly Phetoe, by 996 votes to 809. She is the first woman to hold the post.
Susan Khumalo is first deputy president. She beat Duncan Luvuno by 915 votes to 882. Mbali Blose was elected second deputy president without opposition.
Gerald Twala is deputy general secretary. No one stood against him. Khomotso Makhupola, from the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), is national treasurer.
Shingange won after his own union, Nehawu, suspended him on the eve of Cosatu’s September congress. He allegedly defied its instruction not to sign a nomination form to run for president.
That dispute contributed to the collapse of the September congress. Some unions, including Nehawu, refused to hand over their delegate lists until the congress dealt with Shingange’s status.
The vote comes as Cosatu is divided over which party to back in the 4 November local government elections, the African National Congress (ANC) or the South African Communist Party (SACP). Shingange is seen as close to the SACP and Nehawu. Losi is viewed as an ally of President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC.
On Monday, ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe walked out of the congress after refusing to address delegates before the SACP.
