Vavi: is this the end of the road?
BELEAGUERED Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi is to be formally charged with bringing the federation into disrepute and contravening its recruitment policy, insiders say.
They said last night that the federation’s central executive committee’s special meeting had resolved to subject Vavi to a formal disciplinary process for having sex with a junior employee in his office.
Unconfirmed reports said Cosatu had later suspended Vavi or that he had decided to take leave of absence.
After its marathon meeting in Johannesburg yesterday, the committee resolved to sanction Vavi for allegedly employing a female staffer without following procedure.
His supporters tried to oppose the decision
Vavi, who has been at the helm of the 2 million-member federation since 1998, was asked to recuse himself.
While anti-Vavi forces prevailed, it is understood that his supporters put up a strong fight to keep him in his position.
Eventually, the majority of the committee members supported a motion to charge him.
“His supporters tried to oppose the decision, but even- tually the will of the majority prevailed,” said a source who attended the meeting.
The committee also resolved to refer Vavi’s hearing to an independent panel for the sake of impartiality.
The date of the hearing will be decided by the panel in consultation with the central executive committee. Last night’s resolution could have farreaching implications for Vavi’s political career.
He could not be reached for comment last night.
Sources described the committee meeting as tense. They said it had got off to a slow start as anti- and proVavi forces argued over the quorum required for the meeting to proceed.
The committee meeting had been called to discuss
allegations that Vavi brought Cosatu into disrepute by having sex with a junior employee in his office.
The woman laid a complaint of rape, but later withdrew it. She refused to disclose her reasons.
Vavi admitted to the sex, but insisted it was consensual. He later apologised to his family, Cosatu members and the public.
Vavi and Cosatu president S’dumo Dlamini lead rival Cosatu factions that have been fighting running battles over the federation’s socio-political ideology and whether to give President Jacob Zuma’s government unqualified support.
Vavi did not support Zuma’s re-election at the ANC’s national conference in Mangaung in December.
Dlamini is one of Zuma’s closest allies in the tripartite alliance.
Fikile “Slovo” Majola, general secretary of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), has emerged as a strong contender to replace Vavi should he be pushed out for good.
The prospects of Majola’s counterpart in the National Union of Mineworkers, Frans Baleni, replacing Vavi appear to be fading.