Mbombela, Mpumalanga – The Mpumalanga High Court has reserved judgment in an urgent application brought by members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) Ehlanzeni Region, who are challenging the legitimacy of the delegate list for the union’s upcoming provincial congress.
The dispute arose after members of the regional executive committee accused the regional secretary of compiling the list without proper consultation or a formal meeting to nominate and elect representatives. Protesting outside the court, union members in their NEHAWU regalia demanded transparency, arguing that the current list lacks legitimacy.
Concerns Over Representation
Ehlanzeni, the largest region in Mpumalanga, sends a significant number of delegates to the provincial congress. The protesting members claim that without proper endorsement from the regional executive committee, their voices will not be heard.
“If we continue in this state, where names are submitted without the endorsement of the regional executive committee, Ehlanzeni will not have a voice. Those representing us will not have a mandate to speak on our preferred leadership in the province,” said one member.
Call for a Special Meeting
The applicants are demanding that NEHAWU convene a special regional executive committee meeting to elect their preferred candidates. They allege that a previous meeting on May 22 was inconclusive, and despite agreeing to reconvene within seven days, the regional leadership failed to respond to their requests.
Union Leadership Responds
NEHAWU’s provincial leadership, present at the protests, downplayed the tensions, stating that internal disputes are common ahead of congresses.
“We have already convened six provincial congresses, with only three remaining, including Mpumalanga. Issues like these arise, but the union is capable of resolving them to ensure unity,” a provincial leader said.
The NEHAWU Mpumalanga Provincial Congress is scheduled for June 25–27. The High Court is expected to deliver its ruling later this week, which could determine whether the contested delegate list stands or if a new election process must be held.
