Cosatu's 'suspension' of Vavi unclear

Johannesburg - Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi was suspended by the trade union federation on Wednesday night, the SABC reported.

This follows on earlier reports that he had been put on indefinite special leave by the central executive committee meeting of Cosatu.

While there was no official confirmation of his suspension, the state broadcaster cited an unnamed Cosatu House official as its source.

Last month, a junior employee at the Congress of SA Trade Unions accused Vavi of rape. He admitted to having a consensual affair with the woman. The woman subsequently withdrew her complaint against him.

The Cosatu central executive committee (CEC) was meeting in Johannesburg on Wednesday night to decide possible sanctions against Vavi for his admission of the affair.

According to Business Day Live, Cosatu was expected to issue a statement on the CEC meeting's outcome on Thursday.