The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is in a celebratory mood following the rescue of its Affiliate, the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers’ Union (CEPPWAWU), from the stifling grip of its administrator, Mr. Sipho Sono.
CEPPWAWU was initially put under administration by the Registrar of Labour Relations in June 2020, following a failure to manage its own affairs as far back as 2018. The first administrator appointed by the Registrar was axed after members of the union expressed dissatisfaction with her administration.
Sono, a business rescue specialist, was brought in as interim administrator for six months before eventually being appointed. His mandate was simple – to appoint an experienced and reputable facilitator to ensure the union’s Congresses were convened as per the organisation’s constitution for the purposes of electing a new national leadership for CEPPWAWU.
The said Congresses were to be convened and concluded by 30 September 2023, after which the control, management and affairs of the union would be handed over to the new leadership on expiry of Sono’s term on 12 December 2023. However, this did not happen. As a result, the Registrar approached court to have Sono legally removed. The matter was heard on 30 July 2025.
Shockingly, Sono contested the matter in court even though he had not delivered on his task 19 months after his term of appointment was to have expired. It was apparent he had no intention to leave even though union members, former leaders, employees and the Registrar wanted him gone.
But in a victory for workers, a Labour Court judgement delivered on 28 January, found in favour of the Registrar and ordered the removal of Sono as administrator of CEPPWAWU. Sono will be replaced by Gerhard Vosloo, whose term as administrator will commence on 1 March 2026 and expire on 30 December 2026.
As per the court order, Vosloo has to finalise outstanding audited financial statements for the years ending 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. He must also convene a National Congress to elect the national leadership of CEPPWAWU; after which he must handover control of the union to the national leadership.
COSATU is pleased that CEPPWAWU is finally rid of Sono and what we believe have been his murky intentions to bleed the union dry, by continuing to pay himself an exorbitant daily rate for as long as possible, while not lifting a finger to fix the union. His behaviour is an indictment to his profession; he should not be afforded the opportunity to do this to other organisations.
COSATU is delighted that CEPPWAWU is one step closer to returning to its rightful owners – the workers. The Federation will be keeping a close eye on Vosloo to ensure he delivers on his task.
Issued by COSATU