National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa

History

NUMSA was founded in May 1987, with the merger of four unions:

• Metal and Allied Workers' Union
• Motor Industry Combined Workers' Union
• National Automobile and Allied Workers' Union
• United Metal, Mining and Allied Workers of South Africa

The General and Allied Workers' Union and the Transport and General Workers' Union, both affiliated to COSATU, also transferred their members in relevant industries.

The union considers itself to be Marxist-Leninist, and has had a fraught relationship with the South African Communist Party (SACP), which it considers to be no longer adhering to Marxist-Leninist principles. Post-1994, NUMSA became known within the Tripartite Alliance between COSATU, the SACP and the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for its refusal to remain silent on controversial ANC policies, especially its promotion of privatisation and its failure to end mass poverty in the country.

As of 2013, the union has over 340,000 members throughout South Africa.{{cite news

Rejection of ANC and SACP

At the conclusion on 20 December 2013 of a special national congress held in Boksburg, NUMSA withdrew support from the ANC and SACP altogether, and called for an alternative movement of the working class. The union stated that it would not endorse any political party in the 2014 South African general election, but that individual members were free to campaign for the party of their choice, provided they do so in their own time using their own resources. It called for COSATU to break from the Tripartite Alliance and form a united front of left-wing forces similar to the United Democratic Front (UDF) during the struggle against Apartheid.{{cite news

Rejection of the EFF

The union also distanced itself from Julius Malema and his Economic Freedom Fighters citing concerns about corruption, authoritarianism and a limited conception of anti-capitalism.{{cite news

Expulsion from COSATU

In the early hours of the morning of 8 November 2014, after an "excruciating" 15-hour debate, the delegates of COSATU's Central Executive Committee (CEC) voted 3324 in favour of expelling NUMSA from the trade union federation. After the vote was announced, a row occurred when COSATU president Sdumo Dlamini told the NUMSA CEC delegates to leave the meeting, but general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi intervened, citing the COSATU constitution to argue NUMSA would need to be informed in writing of its expulsion before it became valid. This did not calm matters, with both sides becoming ever more frustrated until the NUMSA delegates walked out and NUMSA secretary general Irvin Jim announced the union's expulsion to journalists waiting outside COSATU House. The meeting was adjourned shortly after without the remaining items on the agenda having been discussed.{{cite news

Proposal to Return to Cosatu, the SACP and the ANC

In December 2025, Business Day reported that NUMSA was engaged in discussions with COSATU with a view to returning to the ANC-led tripartite alliance. The report stated that proposals circulated within NUMSA also included the convening of a meeting involving the ANC, SACP, EFF, MKP and Mayibuye Movement with the aim of building unity.

SAFTU rejected what it described as a “dishonest ‘come back home’ narrative”, stating that claims about a return to COSATU falsely suggested organisational continuity and ignored the circumstances under which SAFTU was formed following NUMSA’s expulsion from COSATU.

Industrial actions

On 5 October 2021, NUMSA went on strike, seeking wage increases for its members in the auto industry sector, after talks with employer organisations had stalled. South African plants manufacture for major brands including Ford, BMW and Nissan. On 21 October, NUMSA secured 5-6% annual pay increases for its members, and ended the strike.

Leadership

General Secretaries

:1987: Moses Mayekiso :1993: Enoch Godongwana :1996: Mbuyiselo Ngwenda :1999: Peter Dantjie (acting) :2000: Silumko Nondwangu :2008: Irvin Jim

Presidents

:1987: Daniel Dube :1991: Maxwell Xulu :1992: Mthuthuzeli Tom :2008: Cedric Gina :2013: Andrew Nditshe Chirwa

References

References

1. (2017). "Trade Unions in Transformation". Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.
2. "History".
3. [http://www.numsa.org.za/article/numsas-response-sa-communist-party-sacp/ Numsa’s Response To The SA Communist Party (SACP)]. ''National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa'' website. Dated 17 December 2014.
4. Marrian, Natasha. (18 December 2025). "Numsa re-enters the tripartite alliance fray". Business Day.
5. SAFTU Admin. (9 December 2025). "SAFTU rejects the dishonest “come back home” narrative on NUMSA and FAWU and reaffirms unity in action".
6. (2021-10-06). "Metalworkers in South Africa commence indefinite strike over pay rise".
7. (2021-10-21). "South African union accepts wage offer, paving way for strike to end". [[Reuters]].
8. (23 May 2012). "Happy 25th birthday!".
9. (9 March 2000). "Peter Dantjie leaves NUMSA".