Cosatu CEC agrees to 'ceasefire'

Johannesburg - Cosatu on Wednesday confirmed that a "ceasefire" was agreed to regarding Zwelinzima Vavi and Numsa after proposals made by ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa headed an African National Congress (ANC) task team set up to assist the Congress of SA Trade Unions resolve its internal problems, spokesperson Patrick Craven said in a statement.

He was accompanied by ANC deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte.

"The deputy president hoped that the task team could broker an agreement which would lead to a successful resolution to the federation’s problems and achieve an outcome which would preserve the unity and integrity of the workers’ movement.

"The first task was to convince all role players that Cosatu’s current problems are resolvable, and then to work diligently together to resolve them."

The special CEC, held in Johannesburg on Tuesday, was meant to discuss the National Union of Metalworkers of SA's (Numsa's) response to Cosatu on why it should not be suspended or expelled, and the disciplinary process against general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

Vavi, who was suspended from the trade union eight months ago for having an affair with a junior employee, returned to work on Monday.

This was after the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg ruled that his suspension be set aside.

Numsa opposed Vavi's suspension and has been at loggerheads with Cosatu over the issue.

The metalworkers' union has also gone against Cosatu by deciding not to support the ANC in this year's general election and calling for a Cosatu special national congress so that new leadership could be elected.

Task team

Craven on Wednesday said the ANC task team recommended that the special CEC be postponed. However, Cosatu's national office bearers could not agree with this until it had spoken to its affiliates.

Ramaphosa then addressed the CEC to explain why the team was proposing a postponement.

"The CEC reconvened and discussed the ANC proposal.

"After discussion it was agreed to accept the ANC’s proposals and for the national office bearers to discuss the modalities of the process."

It was agreed that the CEC meeting be postponed for 14 days, said Craven.