Former NEHAWU leader takes over from Zingiswa Losi after contested leadership election.
Mike Shingange has been elected the new president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), taking over from Zingiswa Losi following a contested leadership race at the federation’s 15th National Congress in Kempton Park on Wednesday.
Shingange, who previously served as COSATU’s first deputy president and president of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU), defeated South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) deputy president Mabutho Cele in the presidential election.
The election results reported by eNCA put Shingange on 973 votes against Cele’s 836, giving him a winning margin of 137 votes.
The new leadership begins a four-year term at the head of South Africa’s largest trade union federation, which represents approximately 1.6 million workers.
Losi elected general secretary
In a significant leadership change, Losi, who previously served as COSATU president, has been elected the federation’s new general secretary. She defeated incumbent Solly Phetoe, securing 996 votes against his 809, according to eNCA.
Her election makes her the first woman to hold the position, which is central to the federation’s administration and day-to-day operations.
Susan Khumalo was elected first deputy president, while Mbali Blose secured the position of second deputy president unopposed. Gerald Twala was elected deputy general secretary, with Kgomotso Makhupola taking over as national treasurer.
Leadership battle delayed congress
Shingange’s election follows weeks of uncertainty and disagreements that disrupted COSATU’s original national congress, scheduled for September at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand.
The initial gathering failed to proceed after disputes over delegate credentials and Shingange’s eligibility to contest the presidency. Some affiliated unions withheld their delegate lists while seeking clarity on the matter.
NEHAWU had suspended Shingange after he allegedly went against the union’s instructions by signing a nomination form to contest the COSATU presidency. He challenged the suspension, and the Labour Court granted him relief, ruling that the precautionary suspension did not prevent him from participating in the leadership election.
The congress was subsequently reconvened at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, where delegates proceeded with the leadership elections.
A key figure in organised labour
Shingange enters the presidency with considerable experience in the trade union movement. His leadership of NEHAWU and previous role as COSATU first deputy president have placed him at the centre of debates about workers’ rights, labour policy and the future direction of the federation.
He is also a member of the South African Communist Party’s central committee and serves as vice-president of the World Federation of Trade Unions, a position he was elected to in March 2023.
His political outlook could influence COSATU’s relationship with the African National Congress (ANC) and the SACP. The federation has historically operated within the tripartite alliance alongside the two parties, supporting the ANC in national elections since 1994.
However, questions about that relationship have intensified amid concerns over unemployment, economic hardship, public service delivery and the government’s record. At COSATU’s 2022 national congress, NEHAWU under Shingange’s leadership was among the unions that advocated for the federation to reconsider its electoral support for the ANC and back the SACP instead.
Challenges facing the new president
Shingange takes office at a time when South African workers continue to face rising living costs, unemployment, job insecurity and concerns about wages and working conditions.
COSATU has historically played an important role in shaping labour legislation and advocating for workers, including through campaigns linked to the national minimum wage and protections governing employment conditions.
The new president will be expected to unite the federation’s affiliated unions following the divisions surrounding the congress, while ensuring that workers’ interests remain central to its political and economic engagements.
His leadership will also be tested by the federation’s position on government policy and whether its traditional alliance with the ANC can continue to serve the interests of its members.
The election marks a new chapter for COSATU, with Shingange taking over the presidency and Losi moving into the federation’s top administrative position.
