The crisis in Numsa:
The lessons and the way forward
“We, the members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), firmly commit ourselves to a United South Africa, free of oppression and economic exploitation”
This proud and defiant statement opens the Preamble to the Numsa Constitution, which goes on to assert “that this can only be achieved under the leadership of an organised and united working class”.
The Preamble lists the conditions under which this struggle can be successful, including:
“(a) fight and oppose all forms of discrimination” in the trade union, the workplace and society.
“(c) ensure that all levels of the union are democratically structured and controlled by the members themselves through elected worker committees.”
“(d) encourage democratic worker leadership and organisation in our factories and in all spheres of society.” (“Preamble to the Constitution” at: https://numsa.org.za/numsa-constitution/)
And yet, it seems that this crucial trade union has fallen under the control of a dictatorial and corrupt special-interest clique. Union activists claim that this clique imposes its authority in flagrant breach of the principles expressed in the Preamble to the Union’s Constitution. Continue reading