The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has lashed out at the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), accusing it of celebrating a "hollow victory" following the High Court in Johannesburg's order that the trade union federation must hold its special national congress in July.

"To Numsa leadership we say – tell no lies and claim no easy victories," Cosatu said in a statement on Monday.

"As Cosatu we want to repeat that we took a decision to convene the special national congress on the 2014 November CEC [central executive committee] following the president’s report which had been tabled in various CEC meetings."

It said it had already agreed to convene the congress on July 13 and 14 and Numsa was present at the time the decision was taken, yet the metalworkers union still continued with its court action.

Numsa was expelled from Cosatu in November last year.

Earlier on Monday, the court ordered that the congress take place on July 13 and 14, and Cosatu and its president Sidumo Dlamini must notify Cosatu members of the congress by June 28.

If they do not comply, Numsa and seven other unions have the right to go back to court with only one week's notice, according to the draft order.

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

'Do the right thing'

However, Cosatu claims this is no victory for Numsa.

"If there could be any claim for victory, such a claim should be made by Cosatu because the unions who have boycotted the CEC will now come back to participate in the preparations towards the special national congress which is intended to among others discuss the unity of the federation."

Cosatu said its special national congress would go ahead without Numsa, because it was no longer an affiliate union.

Numsa has taken Cosatu to court over its expulsion and written a letter to appeal its ousting at the next ordinary national congress.

The union was expelled for resolutions it had taken at its special national congress in December 2013.

These included not supporting the African National Congress during the general elections and expanding its scope.

Since Numsa's expulsion Cosatu has admitted a new metalworkers union into the federation, the Liberated Metal Workers Union of South Africa (Limusa).

Cosatu said it would only allow Numsa back into the fold if it reversed the resolutions which went against the federation's policy. It also urged metalworkers to join Limusa.

"When [the] Numsa leadership decide to do the right thing, only at that time will we consider internal discussions about what is to be done."

News24.com