The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) must hold its long-awaited special national congress in July, the High Court in Johannesburg ruled on Monday.

The congress must take place on July 13 and 14, and the union federation and its president Sidumo Dlamini must notify Cosatu members of the congress by June 28.

If they do not comply, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and seven other unions have the right to go back to court with only one week's notice, according to the draft order sent to News24 by Numsa.

Numsa spokesperson Castro Ngobese said the metalworkers union and its allies - the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu); SA Football Players Union (SAFPU); SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu); Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa); Communication Workers Union (CWU); SA Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) and SA State and Allied Workers Union (Sasawu) - had scored a historic victory with the order.

"The court’s order has affirmed the superiority of the federation’s constitution. Furthermore, the court order has buried the continuous flouting and undemocratic disregard of the constitution by Dlamini and his grouping."

He said Numsa and its allies had been calling for the congress for 18 months to deal with the "paralysis" that emerged in the federation after its 10th congress in 2012.

''As Numsa, joined by our allies, we view the court order as a victory for the workers of our country and the generation that built Cosatu over the past 30 years. ''

Numsa was expelled from Cosatu last November after a special central executive committee meeting for allegedly violating its constitution.

Cosatu has had to deal with internal disputes over the suspension of its general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

Vavi was suspended after being accused of rape by a junior colleague. Vavi said they had consensual sex. Numsa successfully challenged his suspension in court and it was overturned.

Numsa and its ally affiliates want the Special National Congress so that new leadership can be elected for Cosatu.

Comment from Cosatu was not immediately available.

News24.com