Vavi: It would be a mockery for me to attend Cosatu meeting

Johannesburg - The fate of Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi could be decided on Monday or Tuesday during a special central executive committee (CEC) meeting.

Vavi told Fin24 on Monday morning that he will certainly not be attending this meeting and expects to be either suspended or expelled.   

For nearly two years now almost half the Cosatu unions have been calling for a special national congress to resolve the issue of the expulsion of the metalworkers union Numsa and the arguments with Vavi.

READ: Cosatu facing financial crisis, says Vavi

The next Cosatu national congress is in September. However, the CEC can only recommend suspension or expulsion since this has to be either ratified or may be overturned by a national congress.

Vavi repeatedly stressed to Fin24 that in terms of Cosatu's constitution the federation belongs to its members.

Therefore, it is up to the delegates of all the unions to decide who should, for instance, be expelled or suspended and the only way that can be done is through the national congress. Any CEC decision about suspending or expelling would in his view be out of order.

READ: Vavi: I'm not going to resign

Vavi said it would be a mockery for him to attend the special CEC meeting as the biggest union, Numsa, will be absent.

Vavi was also discussed at a normal meeting of Cosatu's CEC early in March, attended by national office bearers, affiliated unions and provincial structures.

According to a Cosatu statement at the time, the meeting expressed deep concern about Vavi "who continues to conduct himself in a manner that seeks to define himself either above the organisation or to act outside the discipline of collective leadership".

At that stage it was the third meeting that Vavi had not attended. It was agreed that Vavi must be afforded a chance to come and explain his conduct at a special CEC meeting.

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