The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, NUMSA, is facing a major internal leadership dispute. According to Business Day, the union’s central committee has withdrawn the delegated powers and functions of its national office bearers, including general secretary Irvin Jim, and assigned their responsibilities to a task coordinating team.

The move follows a dispute over the exclusion of Mpumalanga delegates from committee meetings, a Labour Court ruling, and tensions over the union’s preparations for its national congress scheduled for 30 November to 4 December.

At the heart of this is a bigger question: is this a necessary intervention to protect the union’s constitution and democratic processes, or another sign of deepening divisions within one of South Africa’s largest trade unions? We are in conversation with Political Analyst, Thobani Zikalala about what does this power struggle mean for NUMSA’s members, its leadership and the workers who depend on the union to represent them? And whether the organisation can resolve its internal battles before its national congress?