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Cosatu airs dirty laundry in public

Johannesburg - The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) are involved in a public spat and accused each other of tribalism and desperation on Tuesday.

Acting general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali spoke out saying the labour federation had restrained itself from responding to attacks from renegade affiliate Numsa and suspended general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

He said Vavi and Numsa had publicly undermined the leadership of Cosatu.

Cosatu also wanted members to stop participating in disruptions of meetings of Cosatu leaders in some provinces in support of Vavi.

Tribalism & desperation

Ntshalintshali questioned whether the support for Vavi, which is concentrated in the Eastern Cape, was not motivated by “tribalism” because the province is where Vavi’s ancestors come from.

“If it [tribalism] is not stopped, we may find it happening in every part of the country and have it used to whip up emotions of our people in the process of drumming up support for disgruntled individuals.

“We refuse to accept that these disruptive activities may be based on tribalism.

In a tweet, Vavi dismissed the accusation of tribalism as “desperation”.

Disciplinary charges

Ntshalintshali also outlined the disciplinary charges against Vavi, which are related to:

- Recruiting and employing the staff member whom he had admitted to having sex with at work;
- Having a relationship with the staff member;
- Conversion of the staff member into an employee;
- Supervision of this particular staff member;
- Distribution of an internal grievance and response;
- Personal expenses and travel;
- Carte Blanche interview;
- Breach of suspension conditions; and
- Utterances derogatory to Cosatu and its leadership.

Read the full story on City Press.

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