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Numsa pickets ahead of Cosatu CEC

Johannesburg - Members of Numsa held a picket outside Cosatu House in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on Tuesday ahead of the trade union federation's central executive committee (CEC) meeting.

National Union of Metalworkers of SA general secretary Irvin Jim arrived for the meeting and told reporters his union had been with the Congress of SA Trade Unions since its formation in 1985.

"Numsa leadership are standing firm on feet of steel to make sure workers remain united," Jim said.

It emerged at a Numsa shop stewards council at the Coastlands Hotel in Durban on Sunday that newly reinstated Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi could face renewed suspension at the CEC.

This was after the High Court in Johannesburg set aside his suspension from Cosatu on Friday.

He was put on special leave in August last year, pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing relating to his affair with a junior employee.

Following Vavi's suspension, Numsa, an ally of his, lodged an application in the High Court in Johannesburg challenging the decision.

Cosatu has been split between affiliates supporting Vavi and those supporting his suspension.

Numsa deputy president Karl Cloete said at the shop stewards council at the weekend: "On Tuesday they will say let us continue with the disciplinary charges against Zwelinzima Vavi."

On Tuesday, scores of Numsa members assembled on the theatre lawns opposite Cosatu House to demonstrate their support for Vavi and Numsa's continued membership of Cosatu.

They held placards proclaiming "Hands off Numsa" and "Reclaim Cosatu for workers' unity".

Others waved placards reading "Unions are not a stepping stone to Parliament" and "Defend Numsa, defeat factionalism".

A large red banner was hung on the fence facing Cosatu House bearing the words "We built Cosatu. No Numsa expulsion! No Numsa suspension!"

Numsa national treasurer Mphumzi Maqungo and other national office bearers stood on the back of a small truck and addressed the assembled protesters through a public address system.

Maqungo said the union reaffirmed its position that it wanted a vote of no confidence in Cosatu president Sidumo Dlamini.

"Court papers prove that Sidumo has played a decisive role. He is the one who should be expelled from Cosatu."

He demanded a date be set for a special national congress of Cosatu.

After Vavi's suspension, Numsa and other Cosatu affiliated unions called on Cosatu to hold a special national congress where new leadership would be elected.

Numsa accused Dlamini and other national office bearers of manipulating processes that were used to suspend Vavi. The union has resolved, after holding its own special congress, not to support the African National Congress in this year's elections.

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