Business Day
*Quickening NUM election race has implications for Cosatu* *Natasha Marrian, Business Day, Johannesburg, 24 April 2012 *THE leadership race in the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has picked up speed following the opening of nominations in regions for the top spot in what is the largest affiliate of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).
The NUM is a powerful voice in Cosatu and its leadership selection is expected to influence the federation's elective congress due to be held in September and, in turn, the African National Congress (ANC) elective conference in December.
Two slates have emerged among the 11 regions so far, both neck and neck in terms of support, with four regions confirming support of general secretary Frans Baleni and four strongly in favour of his deputy, Oupa Komane, replacing him.
One of these two lists of possible candidates would see the retention of the status quo with the re-election of Senzeni Zokwana as president, Piet Matosa as his deputy, and Mr Baleni staying on as general secretary.
The deviation from the status quo on this slate is merely to replace Mr Komane with Northern Cape secretary Tshimane Montoedi.
The alternative nomination list --- put forward by those lobbying for Mr Baleni's removal and his replacement with Mr Komane --- is a deviation from the status quo.
It is understood this group is punting Joe Montiisetse, the NUM's regional secretary in Matlosana, for president, Free State secretary David Spunzi as his deputy and Mr Komane as general secretary.
Further nominations could also be made from the floor by delegates at the conference, which will be held towards the end of next month.
Mr Komane said he was approached "by people". "I believe that being put in a position is a deployment by the organisation and the organisation must discuss it collectively and approach me when they have decided," he said. "The undercover lobbying and so on, I am not part of it," Mr Komane said.
Mr Baleni was abroad and not available for comment yesterday.NUM national spokesman Lesiba Seshoka refused to comment on the coming election. "For now, nominations are still open and we are not able to comment on any leadership issues," he said.
Eastern Cape regional secretary Richard Khuhla said it was decided at a meeting last week that the current leadership would be retained. "They are serving us well, for now.... They (the regional committee) said Oupa is good as deputy secretary, but if he doesn't want that position we will look for another option. We don't want to compromise the general secretary," he said yesterday.
The KwaZulu-Natal branch met on Saturday and decided to retain the status quo, with the exception of the position of deputy secretary-general, which it now wants to see filled by Mr Montoedi.
It is understood the Free State and Western Cape branches hold the same view as KwaZulu-Natal.
The Northern Cape has not yet taken a decision and lobbying is continuing in Gauteng, Limpopo and the North West, where Mr Komane is said to be popular.
Another Cosatu affiliate, the National Union of Metal Workers of SA, is also due to hold an elective conference, from June 4-8 in Durban.
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