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The South African State and Allied Workers Union (SASAWU) has decided to withdraw from participation in the National Congress of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) scheduled to take place from 23-26 November 2015.

In a letter to COSATU President Sidumo Dlamini, SASAWU General Secretary, Mike Ngqolowa, confirms that the union, although in good standing, has not been participating in the federation’s Central Executive Committee (CEC).

Although we did attend the Special National Congress, as one of the unions which called for it, he says, the hostilities which prevailed at that Congress convinced us that we had no hope of the Congress discussing the issues which it was called to discuss.

We were also startled, says the union, by the fact that our federation expects us to pay a fee for tables, as if we were participants in a vending process, and we were not party to any CEC meetings which reached such a decision.

Having interacted with others to assess the current environment in the federation, we have found it prudent to withdraw our attendance at this Congress.

Issued by The South African State and Allied Workers Union