Vavi joins unions in Cosatu boycott

Cosatu General secretary Zwelinzima Vavi

Cosatu General secretary Zwelinzima Vavi

Published Mar 3, 2015

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Amy Musgrave

Group Labour Editor

COSATU general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi’s future is being discussed at the federation’s three-day central executive committee meeting – despite his absence and that of nearly half of its affiliates.

Vavi confirmed yesterday that a forensic report detailing financial maladministration relating to a number of matters, including the sale and purchase of Cosatu buildings, was on the agenda. The general secretary has been accused by his detractors of benefiting from the deals.

Vavi is yet to face a disciplinary hearing over a number of charges, including financial maladministration and bringing the federation into disrepute.

His hearing and a number of other issues were initially held in abeyance while the ANC attempted to broker a peace deal in Cosatu, whose 18 affiliates are more apart than ever.

Vavi’s charges were reinstated after the first leg of that process was completed in November last year.

Vavi announced yesterday morning on Twitter that he would not take part in the CEC.

When contacted by Independent Media for comment, he said: “I don’t believe you can build unity by pretending it’s business as usual when half of the unions have written you letters saying they are boycotting in protest.”

He decision follows a public announcement by seven affiliates that they would boycott the high-level meeting as they wanted it postponed until they had met the ANC.

An ANC task team, which is meant to be working out a road map to deal with issues tearing apart the federation, postponed a meeting with Cosatu and its affiliates set for last week after informing them that not all their members were available.

Although there is a boycott, the CEC can meet and its members can vote on items on the agenda as they are in the majority and have a quorum.

Asked if Vavi had discussed his decision with the seven affiliates beforehand, Food and Allied Workers Union general secretary Katishi Masemola said he had found out about it only yesterday morning.

He said besides the affiliates all being in unison on the return of rebel metalworkers union Numsa to the Cosatu fold after it was expelled last year, they were also concerned that the matters up for discussion on the CEC agenda would further deepen divisions in the federation.

Masemola said that usually the final agenda was distributed in the morning the CEC started, but the seven affiliates had not received anything after announcing their boycott on Sunday.

The last one he had seen included an application by newly formed metalworkers union Limusa to be granted affiliation to Cosatu; the disciplinary status of Vavi; plans around a special national congress; and investigations into the status of Cosatu second deputy president Zingiswa Losi.

While a CEC meeting last year, which was also boycotted, confirmed Losi could keep her post, it did agree that Cosatu’s constitution needed to be improved to deal with what happened when a leader changed jobs.

“We thought today’s CEC would simply further divisions. We need to meet the ANC first,” Masemola said.

“We just hope it won’t take decisions that will plunge unity further. There are items on the agenda that reinforce the perception that there is no future for Numsa in Cosatu,” Masemola said.

The ANC has not yet set a new date to meet the affiliates.

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