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12 September, 2011
In a contentious Congress that almost collapsed without being completed, South African ICEM affiliate Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers’ Union (CEPPWAWU) re-elected Simon Mofokeng as General Secretary 2 September in Durban. Some 299 delegates represented the union’s seven regions at the 4th Congress from 31 August to 2 September.
Mofokeng was the only one of six national office bearers to win re-election, besting former General Secretary Welile Nolingo 178-114 in a secret ballot delegate vote. Thamsango Mhlongo, a shop steward at Mondi’s pulp and paper mill at Richard’s Bay, KwaZula-Natal, won election as President. He defeated incumbent President Jacob Mabhena by a margin of 200-97.
CEPPWAWU President Thamsanga Mhlongo, General Secretary Simon Mofokeng
The Congress was marked by heated debate on the final day over a Secretariat Report that was one day late in distribution per statutory requirements. The union has been mired in a years-long conflict with the investment manager of its investment arm, CEPPWAWU Investments, a conflict now in South Africa’s courts that has frozen most of CEPPWAWU’s assets.
The final day’s debate caused all of the Congress’s resolutions to be postponed, as well as proposed constitutional amendments and other important statutory business. Following a recommendation from an officer of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), delegates moved to hold a Special Congress to complete the business of the 4th Congress. That likely will be held in the first quarter of 2012.
The final day’s business concluded with election of officers, with all seats being contested.
Earlier, the Congress heard from COSATU President Sidumo Dlamini and South African Land and Public Enterprise Minister Malusi Gigaba, who represented the African National Congress (ANC) at the Congress. Gigaba told delegates that the ANC political party – together with South Africa’s trade unions – must enforce the revolutionary discipline that toppled the apartheid regime in reference to the current split in the party caused by the ANC’s Youth League.
Gigaba also reminded delegates that land reform is still incomplete in South Africa and said the supply of food to the nation’s impoverished depends on water development and rural land re-use. Dlamini urged CEPPWAWU delegates to overcome its current stalemated position, and he reminded that the union was the first union in South Africa to won the 40-hour work-week.
Dlamini also praised CEPPWAWU for being the leader in engagement of foreign capital in order to create jobs, affirmative action, and respect for workers’ rights. Dlamini also said CEPPWAWU must be the leader in forging a state-owned pharmaceutical company in South Africa, a persistent theme throughout the Congress.
Results of elections for other national office bearers: Lucas Mashego, First Deputy Vice President; Eunice Dlodlo, Second Deputy Vice President; Samuel “Chief” Seathlolo, Deputy General Secretary; and Thulasizwe Nsibande, National Treasurer.