No way back to Cosatu for Numsa, Vavi

Former Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi File picture: Dumisani Sibeko

Former Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi File picture: Dumisani Sibeko

Published Nov 26, 2015

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Johannesburg - Cosatu has officially closed the chapter on the expulsions of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and former federation general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi.

Although they were not present at the national congress in Midrand, the issue became the centre of intense debate between affiliates, delaying the congress by more than two hours.

The Food and Allied Workers Union challenged a resolution seeking to affirm the expulsions, saying information about the process as followed by the central executive committee had been inadequate.

They proposed the expulsion of Numsa be set aside and lost when the issue was put to a vote.

Delegates had felt there was a need to find closure on the matter described by the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union as a possible “albatross” around their necks unless put to rest on Thursday.

The move angered some unions which felt the item did not deserve to be allocated a lot of time as Numsa and Vavi had already declared in public platforms that they had no desire to be reinstated.

According to Cosatu, they had not withdrawn their appeals at the federation.

“We do not understand why we have to allocate so much time for this appeal item. If Numsa did not comply with an olive branch that was extended to them, that means they’ve waved that. Even if they had replied, I don’t see them succeeding,” said a delegate from the SA Municipal Workers Union.

Cosatu members voted in favour of Numsa and Vavi’s appeal rejection in their majority. After the results were announced, delegates sang “hamba kahle Vavi ne Numsa”, meaning they should “go well”.

Some members of the Democratic Nurses Organisation of SA (Denosa) abstained from the vote as their congress earlier this year resolved they should support Numsa.

Labour Bureau

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