Newly elected COSATU President, Mike Madala Shingange.
When the dust finally settled at Emperors Palace after the chaotic collapse and reconvening of COSATU’s 15th National Congress, one undeniable truth emerged from the red smoke: the beating heart of Africa’s largest labour federation now belongs firmly to the Mopani District.
The election of two of Mopani’s finest sons, Mike Madala Shingange as President and Gerald Twala as Deputy General Secretary, is a defining moment for the region. It carries the same weight and historical pride as when Tito Mboweni was handed the keys to the National Treasury.
A Rocky Road to the Top Seat
Shingange’s victory was anything but a smooth walk down a red carpet. As a vocal, unapologetic leftist and former NEHAWU President, he was clearly targeted for removal by establishment figures who feared his radical edge.
The plot to block his rise reached a fever pitch when he was handed a precautionary suspension by his own union on the very eve of the initial congress, stripping his delegate status and forcing the entire gathering into collapse.
Yet Shingange fought off the political hit job at the Labour Court, which ruled that his suspension could not bar him from contesting. Returning to the floor with full legitimacy, he won the presidency and proved that grassroots worker support can shatter any boardroom conspiracy.
High Drama and Broken Protocol
The congress was not without its signature political theatre. The absolute low point came when ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe threw a high-voltage tantrum over speaking order. Demanding that the ANC address the floor after SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila, Mantashe staged a dramatic walkout when delegates refused to indulge his ego.
While the established political elite squabbled over protocol and microphone times, delegates were busy adopting resolutions to navigate the thorny political landscape, resolving to campaign and vote for both the ANC and SACP as the alliance fracture deepens.
Mopani’s Time to Lead
With all the pre-congress battles now written into history, COSATU rests squarely in the capable, battle-tested hands of Shingange and Twala.
For the working class in Mopani and across South Africa, seeing two local leaders navigate immense political opposition to claim the federation’s top helm offers a powerful reminder: true power comes from organizational discipline and steadfast courage.
Deputy General Secretary, Gerald Twala.