Zwelinzima Vavi – praag.org

Cosatu on the ropes

Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi says the organisation’s influence has waned dramatically and it could become irrelevant.

Vavi and Sdumo Dlamini both have factions which have divided the trade union body.

Vavi is pushing for action against the ANC while Dlamini is inclined towards the ANC.

In his draft organisational report prepared for Cosatu’s central committee meeting in November, Vavi warns that the once powerful federation could become irrelevant if its leaders do not resolve divisions soon.

The party’s task team appears to have backtracked on its initial plans to offer Vavi and Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini ambassadorial positions in an effort to bring about unity before November’s central committee meeting.

“Cosatu has through its work over the years built up critical political capital in terms of its image and reputation at home and abroad, and the trust which workers in particular have had in the organisation,” Vavi writes in his report.

Vavi said Cosatu’s reputational damage negatively affected the organisation among South African workers and the public, as well as the perceptions of Cosatu among key international players, including in the trade union movement.

“Equally important to this reputational damage is the fact that the broader political impact of Cosatu’s interventions on key issues is significantly undermined by the dilution of our organisational power.

The general secretary said that already there were also signs emerging that membership is declining.

“There was already evidence of this danger in relation to Cosatu’s minimal impact at the ANC’s national conference in Mangaung.” Vavi said.

“We were forced to launch a rearguard action after the Conference, for example in relation to the NDP, to minimise the damage caused by our lack of coherence in Mangaung.”

Cosatu has campaigned against the National Development Plan, or NDP.

Cosatu factions head for battle

Cosatu’s central executive committee will hold a special meeting on Wednesday to discuss the conflict between supporters of the federation’s top two leaders.

The opposing factions are expected to use the meeting to dislodge and discredit general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and president Sdumo Dlamini.

The trade union federation’s top brass called the special meeting after Vavi admitted to having had a sexual liaison with a junior staff member at the Cosatu head office, in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, earlier this year.

Vavi has apologised.

It is expected that Vavi’s detractors in Cosatu – comprising representatives of the National Union of Mineworkers, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union and the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union – will call for his suspension tomorrow.

But Vavi’s supporters are expected to attack Dlamini in a strategy to crush attempts to topple their man. A vote of no-confidence in the Cosatu president might be called.

Expected to lead the charge against Dlamini is the National Union of Metalworkers of SA.

The union has accused Dlamini of failing to deal with what has been call ed the imminent implosion of the labour federation after attempts were reportedly made to force him to act .

Numsa has questioned the motive for convening a special sitting of the Cosatu leadership, which has the power to suspend or expel leaders of the federation.

The union claims that the meeting is part of a ploy to oust Vavi.

Numsa said it would argue tomorrow that the special meeting was unconstitutional and would call for it to be cancelled.

A letter to this effect has been sent to Cosatu officials, the union said yesterday.

Numsa president Cedric Gina – speaking to journalists yesterday in Johannesburg alongside other union leaders after Sunday’s special central committee meeting – said he had recently implored Dlamini to prevent Cosatu’s “imminent demise” but Dlamini was not moved by his pleas. – timeslive.co.za

Vavi ‘pleased’ at withdrawal of complaint

Cosatu secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi is happy that a grievance against him has been withdrawn by his accuser, he said on Monday.

“I am pleased that the grievance [hearing] has been finalised,” Vavi said in a statement.

“I hope that we all can put this saga behind us so that we all can concentrate on the real issues of the day — ensuring that we have a vibrant trade union federation that promotes South Africa and the interests of workers.”

Vavi admitted to having consensual sex with a married woman who was employed by the Congress of SA Trade Unions, and claimed she later tried to extort R2 million from him and alleged rape.

He denied raping her, and said the sex was consensual.

However, she brought a complaint of sexual harassment against him at work.

The hearing commenced on Monday morning.

Vavi said the woman withdrew the complaint two hours into the hearing.

He said he would consult with his lawyer to see if any further action could be taken regarding the complaint.

“In the light of the extreme damage that has been done to my reputation, I will consult with my lawyers to consider any further actions about this matter.” – Sapa

NUM would not comment on Vavi rape allegations

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) would not comment on rape allegations against Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi until it heard from the trade union federation, it said on Monday.

“It will be irresponsible to make statements at this stage,” NUM general secretary Frans Baleni told reporters in Johannesburg after the union’s national executive committee meeting.

“We do not want to engage on details about this matter until it is formally brought to us,” he said.

Vavi has admitted to having an extramarital affair with a married woman who was employed by the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) and claimed she later tried to extort R2 million from him.

He denied raping her, and said the sex was consensual.

However, she brought a complaint of sexual harassment against him. An internal grievance proceeding was being held on Monday morning

Baleni said the union would wait for internal processes regarding the matter to take place. – Sapa

Malema’s EFF gets 1000 new members

Malema's rally in Soweto on Saturday — Malema’s rally in Soweto on Saturday

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have secured over 1000 new members, it said on Saturday.

“We received 1 100 new members on the first day of recruiting,” said party leader Julius Malema at a press briefing in Soweto.

“If this becomes a trend then we will be getting 1 000 member[s] every day. It is going to be bigger than what we expected.”

This exceeded their expectations, he said.

The EFF — which had gathered at the the Uncle Tom community hall for a two day national assembly — plans to contest next year’s general election.

Malema said the EFF would be officially registered with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on Monday after a few amendments had been made, including changes to its logo.

The EFF logo depicted an arrow instead of a spear, and this was to be changed.

Malema said the party would register with double the required number of members needed to contest the election.

“I was told by the IEC that we should have 500 members to register but we are going register with 1 100 new members,” the former ANC Youth League leader said.

Malema is facing corruption charges in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court. He is accused of making nearly R4-million from corrupt activities, and is out on bail of R10,000.

He faces charges of fraud, corruption, money-laundering, and racketeering.

On Saturday, Malema acknowledged that intimidation was part of politics, but expressed concern about the alleged intimidation of his members.

He said “people with pangas” had intimidated his members during an EFF meeting in the Vaal, but did not say when this happened. He noted that intimidation tactics were worse in Mpumalanga.

“I am more worried about Mpumalanga because they have the potential to kill,” he said.

Malema also encouraged Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and his wife to stay strong amid the rape allegations against him.

Vavi’s lawyer Dup de Bruyn said earlier that a case of extortion was opened against a woman who allegedly tried to blackmail Vavi. He said the case was opened at the Sandton police station on Thursday evening. Police spokeswoman Captain Kym Cloete verified this.

In a statement, Vavi denied the rape of a Cosatu colleague, saying he had been in a consensual extramarital affair with the woman.

Malema said he expected Vavi’s wife to stick by his side and not allow “his detractors any room for joy”. – sapa

Marikana is a dangerous precedent, says Vavi

by Genevieve Quintal and Gillian Jones

The Marikana wage deal set a dangerous precedent, the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said on Wednesday.

“If those workers forced the hand of the company in that fashion through an unprotected strike, what stops Driefontein in doing the same,” Vavi asked delegates at Cosatu’s national congress in Midrand, Johannesburg.

Earlier on Wednesday Vavi had to leave the congress to deal with a strike at Gold Fields Driefontein mine in Carletonville where 15,000 workers have been on an illegal strike for the past 10 days.

Leaders of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) accompanied him.

On his return from the mine Vavi said the mineworkers were demanding a salary of R12,500. This was the same demand made by workers at Lonmin’s Platinum mine in Marikana, North West.

On Tuesday Lonmin workers accepted a final offer of a 22 percent increase giving some workers R11,000 a month.

Vavi warned that other workers would think that they too could get substantial increases by going on illegal strikes.

“We are not saying that workers do not deserve their money, but if we are not careful this may mean an end of the central bargaining system in the country.

“Workers will just embark on wildcat strikes and steam ahead and force us to follow them.”

He called for the congress to come up with a radical commitment to putting workers interests first.

He said the Driefontein workers were having problems with their NUM branch leaders. “[However] they all remain loyal members of NUM.”

The workers said they would not abandon the union just because of their problems with the branch leaders.

Vavi said the workers were demanding that the leaders be dismissed and would not listen to argument that according to Cosatu’s constitution there were processes to follow.

The NUM would hold a special national executive committee meeting on Wednesday night to discuss the issue. – Sapa