Polokwane – Expelled Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi is not appealing his expulsion from the labour federation, its president Sdumo Dlamini has said.
“Up to now he has not appealed. He does not show any sign of intending to appeal. He is busy hard at work on the formation of this new thing, dividing Cosatu even further,” he told delegates at its Limpopo shopstewards’ council in Seshego, near Polokwane, on Tuesday.
Vavi had angered the Congress of SA Trade Unions’ leadership, disrespected its central executive committee and divided workers. He defended the decision to expel Vavi and the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) from the federation. Vavi was expelled last month for bringing Cosatu into disrepute and dividing it.
There is speculation that Vavi and Numsa are looking at establishing a new trade union federation.
Numsa expulsion
Dlamini said Cosatu was willing to accept Numsa back if it promised to behave. Numsa was expelled in November last year for trying to recruit members from other industries, which was against Cosatu’s constitution.
“[It] should not be misconstrued that we have closed the door in case Numsa changes, because those members, those workers belong to Cosatu. They know no other home than Cosatu.”
He said the five unions who had suspended their participation in Cosatu promised to return if Numsa was accepted back in. Numsa was appealing its expulsion.
Dlamini said the formation of Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim’s United Front was similar to the Congress of the People, Agang SA, the Economic Freedom Fighters and other parties started by disgruntled leaders.
Jim has said the United Front was not a political party.
Dlamini said the formation of these newcomers was funded by imperialists seeking to weaken African National Congress and its alliance partners.
