Publications
Partners
Recently ousted Numsa second deputy president and SA Federation of Trade Union president Ruth Ntlokotse is not backing down and is ready to cross swords once more with the union, as she says the battle against corruption and death of the worker control principle in the union is not over.
Ntlokotse was speaking at a press conference at Hotel Parktonian in Johannesburg on Thursday when she claimed that her right to obtain a fair appeal hearing of her expulsion was violated on many grounds on July 7.
She said:
Ntlokotse maintains that she was denied a legal representative by the special central committee (SSC) of the union, which heard her appeal, saying her legal representative was only given observers' status.
She was initially expelled in May, following a disciplinary inquiry held at Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni, in her absence, because she failed to attend, according to the union. At the time, independent chairperson, labour law specialist Charlie Higgs recommended Ntlokotse’s expulsion and the national executive committee (NEC) body of the union endorsed it.
READ: Ntlokotse loses expulsion appeal, may have to step down from Saftu presidency
Ntlokotse argued that the hearing was riddled with unfair and arbitrary procedures, saying:
“The constitution says that the Numsa NEC will hear the case against an office bearer. Despite this, the NEC delegated this function to a private attorney appointed by the attorneys of Numsa. Yet, when the constitution says that the central committee will hear an appeal, the CC decides not to delegate this function, but to hear the appeal as a committee of about 60 people. This is inconsistent and prejudicial.”
She slammed the union for unconstitutional conduct and for disciplining her through wrong structures.
“On the one hand, it claimed I am no longer a national office bearer and, therefore, an ordinary member. However, according to the constitution, ordinary members are disciplined at the regional level. Yet, they have taken me straight to the NEC and now the CC. That is the procedure for national office bearers.”
The impetus of the growing division within the union was the suspension of more than 50 members, including Ntlokotse before their congress, which is the highest decision-making body of the union, began in July last year. These members were subsequently excluded from congress, which compelled them to interdict the congress legally.
Conflicted leaders conspiring to dismiss members those who defend the interest of the union
In response to her second charge that states that she failed to comply with the constitutional duties as a member and national office bearer by opposing the general secretary of the union, Irvin Jim, to depose an affidavit, Ntlokotse said:
She added: “This charge demonstrates how ludicrous it is to charge those defending the interests of members instead of punishing the corrupt that has betrayed the interests of members at the worse time of their lives.”
Ntlokotse conceded that the conflicted leaders loathed her for exposing Jim's alleged perjury in the affidavit deposed in the controversial 3Sixty Life curatorship proceedings, in which he said:
The workers' investment wing, Numsa Investment Company (NIC), subsidises 3Sixty Life, which provides insurance services, including funeral cover, to Numsa members.
Ntlokotse further revealed that Numsa's national office bearers were fully aware that as early as 2018, a string of communications was received, including telephone calls, WhatsApp messages, text messages and emails, across all regions, complaining about the poor service from 3Sixty.
“The Eastern Cape regional executive committee actually wrote to the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Authority to complain on behalf of workers. They are now being charged and some were unlawfully suspended because of that.”
She further alleged that the reason Jim lied under oath was to protect the CEO of the NIC who is known for disbursing patronage to Numsa leaders and shop stewards.
READ:Numsa slams expelled Saftu president over 'pack of lies' about union leadership
“The birthday, laptop and car (Hyundai i20) driven by his daughter is bought by NIC. Some leaders of the region splash NIC credit cards buying workers booze. NIC has become the recruitment agency for family members,” said Ntlokotse.
Ntlokotse lamented the glorious history of Numsa.
“It is the history of the building of black trade unions in the most oppressive circumstances. Moreover, we live in a world of union investment companies, which have corrupted union leadership. Such business unionism will be the death of unions.”
She said her legal representatives were still discussing the next course of action.
