________________________________
From: Castro Ngobese <[email protected]>
To: yclsa-eom-forum <[email protected]>
Sent: Thu, June 3, 2010 12:00:54 AM
Subject: [YCLSA Discussion] Hands off Vavi: Trade unions tell ANC
Hands off Vavi: Trade unions tell ANC Jun 2, 2010 4:18 PM | By Sapa
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Trade unions rallied behind Cosatu boss Zwelinzima Vavi following rumours that
the ANC may bring disciplinary action against him for criticising corruption.
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Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.
Photograph by: .
The attack is not only about comrade Vavi and Cosatu; it is an attack on
Cosatu affiliates and the working class, similar to the apartheid tactics used
by the former regime
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Even though the rumoured charges of ill-discipline had not been officially
brought against Vavi, no fewer than six trade unions and Congress of SA Trade
Unions’ alliance partner, the SA Communist Party, issued media statements
condemning the action.
Their statements were loaded with words such as “reckless”, “dismayed”,
“angered” and “outrage”.
The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) said in a carefully worded
warning: “As Numsa we are confident that the ANC NWC [national working
committee] would not be co-opted or coerced into an agenda which seeks to
destroy the alliance, and particularly the public standing of Comrade Vavi, who
enjoys mass support amongst the rank and file membership of the ANC.”
The SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) “expressed outrage at the alleged
decision”.
“The attack is not only about comrade Vavi and Cosatu; it is an attack on
Cosatu affiliates and the working class, similar to the apartheid tactics used
by the former regime,” said Samwu deputy general secretary Walter Theledi.
“We are convinced that the vast majority of our people who live in poor and
working class communities will wholeheartedly agree with the Cosatu position,
and Comrade Vavi’s articulation of it.”
Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven said Vavi had not received any official
communication from the African National Congress on the rumoured charges.
The ANC neither confirmed nor denied the speculation.
“We are unable to comment on rumours or speculation because no decision has
been public on the matter,” ANC spokesman Brian Sokutu told Sapa.
“Until such time that such a decision is made public, only then can we publicly
make an announcement.”
The ANC’s national working committee (NWC), its top leadership structure, held
a closed meeting on Monday, after which The Star newspaper said four sources
had confirmed that charges against Vavi were discussed.
“The NWC did meet on Monday... if there are any decisions taken at NWC level
that require being made public, then those decisions will be communicated to
the media via statement or a media briefing,” said Sokutu.
Cosatu said on Tuesday it had also heard from ANC sources that charges were
pending.
Vavi last week accused President Jacob Zuma of not taking action against
corrupt ministers, and singled out Co-operative Governance Minister Sicelo
Shiceka and Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda -- who is a member of the
ANC NWC.
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe did not want to be drawn into commenting
on Tuesday, saying only that Vavi should show proof of charges being brought
against him.
The ANC’s silence on the rumours seemed to fuel speculation, with several
political parties and trade unions issuing statements to express “shock” at the
reports.
The SA Communist Party (SACP) blamed a “reckless” grouping within the ANC.
“We simply just cannot believe that the ANC can take such a reckless decision
which runs counter to the ANC’s own commitment to the alliance it leads,” SACP
spokesman Malesela Maleka said in a statement.
“If true, this reckless decision would have been pushed through... in the
absence of a significant number of NWC members.”
A tripartite alliance meeting was set to take place next week, but it was
already scheduled three months ago, said Maleka.
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) was “angered”
by the reports.
“The union will vehemently oppose any attempt by some corrupt and fascist
elements within the ANC to silence our federation by targeting its general
secretary, who speaks not for himself but for the millions of workers who
elected him.”
Nehawu said workers would not “sit idle while their federation is being treated
like a junior partner in the tripartite alliance”.
Cosatu in the Free State expressed “shock and disbelief”, the Democratic
Nursing Organisation of SA said the ANC was “degenerating” while the Food and
Allied Workers’ Union said it was “truly annoyed”.
A Business Day report suggested that the ANC Youth League was pushing for
charges to be brought against Vavi.
Their leader, Julius Malema, recently pleaded guilty at a disciplinary hearing.
Business Day speculated that the ANCYL wanted to put SACP chairman and former
trade unionist Gwede Mantashe in a “conflicted position” in attempts to
eventually oust Mantashe.
Vavi, whose cellphone went to voicemail, told the SABC on Tuesday evening that
a decision to charge him would split the tripartite alliance between the ANC,
Cosatu and the SACP. --
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