Embattled Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi is expected to resign from the federation which he has headed for more than 15 years.
Vavi tweeted on Saturday that he would host a press conference on Sunday to make an important announcement.
A senior labour leader, who did not want to be named, said Vavi’s expected announcement did not come as a surprise.
“We expected him to resign last week Thursday. He’s been telling workers at shops steward councils that he was ready to make a pronouncement on his fate,” he said.
Vavi is reported to have told workers in Port Elizabeth that: “To me it looks like I have two choices only. The first choice is to submit and choose the bad over good, choose a lie over the truth and save myself, my salary and the future of my children. Or I can choose the truth – the struggle of the workers and what they represent.”
Vavi could not be reached for comment.
Some of Vavi’s allies believe that his position in Cosatu has become untenable especially now that a second leg of a forensic investigation by Sizwe Ntsaluba Gobodo has accused him of being involved in matters of financial maladministration.
Vavi, who is yet to face a disciplinary hearing, is already facing nine charges from last year, including for bringing the federation into disrepute after having sex with a junior colleague at work, and financial irregularities related to the sale and purchase of Cosatu buildings.
Vavi believes that the charges are part of a witch-hunt against him in Cosatu, and he has released documents to journalists which he believes prove that he is not guilty of dodgy dealings.
Cosatu starts a special central executive committee (CEC) meeting on Monday where Vavi was to explain why he boycotted the federation’s last high-level meeting.
Sunday Argus