Pro-Vavi Cosatu affiliates fighting back

Cosatu's suspended secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi. File photo: Etienne Creux

Cosatu's suspended secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi. File photo: Etienne Creux

Published Aug 11, 2013

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Johannesburg - Supporters of Cosatu boss Zwelinzima Vavi are arguing for the calling-off of Wednesday’s special top meeting of the labour federation, where the general secretary’s admitted extra-marital office affair with a junior staffer is set to take centre stage.

This comes amid widespread concerns across the pro- and anti-Vavi lobbies that the trade union federation, at odds with itself for more than a year, is unable to push workers’ campaigns in an increasingly tough economic climate and rising costs of transport, food and electricity.

Food and Allied Workers’ Union general secretary Katishi Masemola said they would mobilise other affiliates to cancel the Cosatu special central executive committee (CEC), the labour federation’s highest decision-making body between congresses, which has the power to suspend or dismiss national office bearers.

“We will engage the Cosatu leadership about the reasons and the urgency for such a special CEC. If we are not satisfied, we might lobby other affiliates to get the leadership to dump the idea of a special CEC,” he said.

“We don’t see any urgency on this matter… He (Vavi) has apologised (and) the grievance was withdrawn… We should turn the page and move on with Cosatu programmes.”

He was confident the combined support of his union and others would save the Cosatu leader should it go to a vote at the special CEC.

Cosatu’s biggest affiliate, Numsa, holds a special central committee meeting today to formalise its position ahead of Wednesday’s federation affiliates meeting.

The metalworkers’ union general secretary, Irvin Jim, said he did not want to pre-empt the outcome of today’s discussions, but indicated that a firm view existed there was “no rush” to hold a special CEC.

Other affiliates were expected to hold similar meetings.

While teachers union Sadtu’s Port Elizabeth region last weekend accepted Vavi’s apology to them, Sadtu president Thobile Ntola this week said there was no unanimous national position yet on the matter.

However, the regional structure was entitled to lobby and persuade other regions within Sadtu to accept its view, he added.

Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini shrugged off Numsa and Fawu’s move.

“They have not written to us saying that there shouldn’t be a special CEC. Even if they were to write, the CEC (meeting) needs one-third of Cosatu affiliates (to sit). We already have one-third of affiliates who have confirmed,” he said.

National Union of Mineworkers general-secretary Frans Baleni said it would not be possible to pre-empt the special CEC.

However, several “petty cash issues” first had to be considered, including ill-discipline and the issuing of public statements.

A regular CEC meeting is set for September 16, which is expected to consider a report by independent facilitators on internal tensions and allegations of mismanagement and nepotism in the sale of the old Cosatu head offices made against Vavi at February’s CEC.

However, Wednesday’s special CEC was called after Cosatu national officials met on Monday, where it is understood the report of the sexual harassment grievance, cut short when the administrative official withdrew her complaint, was received.

Ahead of the Cosatu officials’ Monday meeting, Dlamini said the sex scandal had tarnished the reputation of the federation, and that it would take a long time to fix the damage.

The report by the independent chairperson of the abandoned sexual harassment hearing is expected to be tabled at this week’s special CEC.

Those who want to see the back of Vavi are expected to argue for disciplinary proceedings against him, if not his suspension or dismissal.

But Masemola said Fawu would oppose any disciplinary charges against Vavi: “My view is that a reprimand is good enough for a person who has apologised publicly,” he said.

He warned that Vavi’s removal would have a debilitating impact on Cosatu, an argument the union was likely to table should the special CEC go ahead.

“The consequences (of Vavi’s removal) are that several affiliates may split into two, and Cosatu itself. Almost all affiliates will be affected negatively.”

Numsa has argued that Vavi’s apology and the withdrawal of the internal sexual harassment grievance have put an end to the matter.

The union said the sex scandal, also steeped in extortion, was part of a political conspiracy.

The push for Vavi to be reprimanded, instead of disciplined and fired, received a boost when Corruption Watch, where the embattled leader serves as a director, publicly censured him for having an “improper relationship”.

It is understood the lobbies within the CEC are finely balanced. Given this, the outcome could well be a replay of the compromise of the September 2012 national congress, which re-elected all top officials in a public show of unity.

It would not be the first time an argument is made that Vavi’s removal could effectively collapse Cosatu.

As senior Cosatu leaders waged war to remove him earlier this year, the ANC intervened.

It is understood that ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe met representatives of Cosatu’s big affiliates to caution them that Vavi’s removal would hurt the ANC and its 2014 election campaign.

Sunday Independent

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