Numsa president Cedric Gina claimed on Monday some of the metalworker union's branches wanted him removed from his post.

"About three branches of Numsa, [they were] proposing that I be released from my responsibility of being a president because the line being communicated to the media even before the special congress has resumed... is not the line I agree with," Gina told SABC news.

"I think it is intended to confuse the country and to push delegates into a particular decision," he said.

Gina said him remaining president was becoming untenable.

Speaking to eNCA earlier, Gina confirmed that he had written a letter to the Numsa tendering his resignation.

"Yes, today at around 3pm... I wrote a letter to the structures of Numsa tendering my resignation," he said.

He told the eNCA that while some union leaders would agree on one thing, others relayed messages to the media which contradicted their agreement.

"For example, I am talking about reports that Numsa is leaving the alliance as if there is a decision made on this already," he said.

"There is no decision for us to split from Cosatu."

Numsa is an affiliate of the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu).

Numsa spokesman Castro Ngobese said he knew nothing about the Gina's resignation.

"I don't know anything about that. As a union we released a statement earlier today saying that we will not engage with him in the media. If he chooses to engage with the media that is fine, but we will not."

Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim could not be reached for comment.