Johannesburg - Beleaguered Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi was suspended on Wednesday night, according to media reports.
The trade federation’s executive committee suspended Vavi after a marathon 10-hour meeting, reports said, citing multiple unnamed sources.
Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven declined to comment, saying a statement would be issued on Thursday.
Vavi could not be reached for comment, but on Thursday morning he tweeted: "I committed an error & have profusely apologised to everyone hurt by my indiscretion. That was a right thing to do.
"I am relieved so many have accepted that apology and recognize that some remain unforgiving. Know others celebrating and rubbing salt.
"Thank you for the support - will say more later.”
Insiders said on Wednesday night that Vavi will also be formally charged with bringing the federation into disrepute and contravening its recruitment policy.
They said a special meeting of Cosatu’s central executive committee (CEC) in Joburg on Wednesday had resolved to subject Vavi to a formal disciplinary process in connection with his much-publicised sexual encounter with a junior employee at Cosatu’s offices in Joburg.
The executive committee resolved to sanction Vavi for allegedly employing a female staffer without following procedure.
Vavi, who has been at the helm of the 2 million-member labour federation since 1998, was asked to recuse himself.
While anti-Vavi forces prevailed, it is understood that his supporters put up a strong fight. Eventually, the majority of the committee members supported a motion to charge him.
“His supporters tried to oppose the decision but eventually the will of the majority prevailed,” said a source who attended the meeting.
The source said there was no secret ballot. Instead, the members took a decision by means of deliberations.
The committee also resolved to refer Vavi’s hearing to an independent panel for the sake of impartiality. Cosatu’s top brass are to identify the panellists at a later stage.
“It was decided that this was crucial for the sake of impartiality and fairness,” the source said.
The date of the hearing will be decided by the panel in consultation with the CEC.
Wednesday night’s resolution could have far-reaching consequences for Vavi’s political career. It’s not clear what his next move would be if he was fired. Vavi could not be reached for comment on Wednesday night.
Sources described the meeting as tense. They said it got off to a slow start as anti- and pro-Vavi forces argued over the quorum – the minimum number of people required to proceed.
The woman at the heart of the scandal first laid a complaint of rape against Vavi before withdrawing it. She refused to give reasons.
Vavi admitted having sex with her, but insisted it was consensual. He later apologised to his family, Cosatu members and the public.
Vavi and Cosatu president S’dumo Dlamini have been leading rival Cosatu factions that have been fighting running battles over the federation’s socio-political ideology and whether to give President Jacob Zuma’s government unqualified support.
Vavi did not support Zuma’s re-election at Mangaung in December. Dlamini is one of Zuma’s closest allies in the tripartite alliance.
Vavi’s woes come as Fikile “Slovo” Majola, the general secretary of the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union, emerged as a strong contender to replace him if he was expelled.
The prospects of Majola’s counterpart in the National Union of Mineworkers, Frans Baleni, replacing Vavi appear to be fading.
This week, the battle for the soul of Cosatu between Vavi and Dlamini’s factions claimed teacher union Sadtu’s president, Thobile Ntola, who is close to Vavi.
He was sanctioned by his union for allowing Vavi to address a union gathering in the Eastern Cape a few days after the sex scandal broke, allegedly without permission. Ntola has since sought legal advice.
Vavi’s supporters, led by metalworkers’ union Numsa, had earlier fired their first salvo by dismissing the CEC meeting as a desperate, second attempt to get rid of Vavi by a group led by “factionalist” Dlamini.
The Star and Sapa