Cosatu bosses issued a strong warning yesterday, saying the decision to expel Numsa was “binding to all structures of Cosatu and its leaders”.
But Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi was conspicuous by his absence when the organisation’s officials defended the decision to fire Numsa, his supporters.
Cosatu Eastern Cape has already indicated that they won’t toe “the party line” on the Numsa matter.
It has also emerged that not only has Vavi spoken out against the dismissal of the metalworkers’ union, he did not sign the letter informing Numsa of its fate.
In what appeared to be an attempt to avert any questions about his absence, a Cosatu spokesman announced that Vavi was not part of the press conference because “he is consulting lawyers”.
This sparked speculation that Vavi was considering dumping Cosatu in solidarity with Numsa. Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini also tried to brush off Vavi’s absence, claiming he had been present at a meeting with other officials that morning to deal “with a range of issues”, including drafting a formal letter expelling Numsa.
The letter was signed by Ntshalintshali.
Vavi would have had the awkward task of informing the media of the reasons his supporters were given their marching orders from Cosatu.
He could not be reached for comment.
The Daily Dispatch reported yesterday that Cosatu provincial secretary MacVicar Dyasopu said the provincial structure would not support the central committee (CEC) decision to expel Numsa because it was divisive, “a blatant inconsistency, and recklessness aimed at ensuring that a sweetheart federation”.
Meanwhile, one of Numsa’s biggest sites in the province, Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) in East London, convened a meeting a few hours after seven Cosatu affiliates announced on Monday that they were withdrawing from the federation for three weeks to get a fresh mandate from workers on how Numsa’s suspension should be handled.
Numsa provincial organiser Phumzile Nodongwe confirmed yesterday that national treasurer Mphumzi Maqungo and president Andrew Chirwa convened the first consultative meetings at the MBSA East London plant on Monday afternoon and workers “unanimously” agreed to wrestle Cosatu from its “butchers” and pledged support for a united front.
“Members were of the view that Numsa must continue fighting to capture the soul of Cosatu back from butchers like Sidumo and his clique,” Nodongwe said.
“Cosatu is driven by the control of the workers. That is why Numsa, together with other unions, are pushing that Sidumo and his clique must agree to call a special national congress.”— zineg@dispatch.co.za, siyam@dispatch.co.za
Vavi absent as Cosatu rails at defiant structures and unions
But Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi was conspicuous by his absence when the organisation’s officials defended the decision to fire Numsa, his supporters.
Cosatu Eastern Cape has already indicated that they won’t toe “the party line” on the Numsa matter.
It has also emerged that not only has Vavi spoken out against the dismissal of the metalworkers’ union, he did not sign the letter informing Numsa of its fate.
In what appeared to be an attempt to avert any questions about his absence, a Cosatu spokesman announced that Vavi was not part of the press conference because “he is consulting lawyers”.
This sparked speculation that Vavi was considering dumping Cosatu in solidarity with Numsa. Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini also tried to brush off Vavi’s absence, claiming he had been present at a meeting with other officials that morning to deal “with a range of issues”, including drafting a formal letter expelling Numsa.
The letter was signed by Ntshalintshali.
Vavi would have had the awkward task of informing the media of the reasons his supporters were given their marching orders from Cosatu.
He could not be reached for comment.
The Daily Dispatch reported yesterday that Cosatu provincial secretary MacVicar Dyasopu said the provincial structure would not support the central committee (CEC) decision to expel Numsa because it was divisive, “a blatant inconsistency, and recklessness aimed at ensuring that a sweetheart federation”.
Meanwhile, one of Numsa’s biggest sites in the province, Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) in East London, convened a meeting a few hours after seven Cosatu affiliates announced on Monday that they were withdrawing from the federation for three weeks to get a fresh mandate from workers on how Numsa’s suspension should be handled.
Numsa provincial organiser Phumzile Nodongwe confirmed yesterday that national treasurer Mphumzi Maqungo and president Andrew Chirwa convened the first consultative meetings at the MBSA East London plant on Monday afternoon and workers “unanimously” agreed to wrestle Cosatu from its “butchers” and pledged support for a united front.
“Members were of the view that Numsa must continue fighting to capture the soul of Cosatu back from butchers like Sidumo and his clique,” Nodongwe said.
“Cosatu is driven by the control of the workers. That is why Numsa, together with other unions, are pushing that Sidumo and his clique must agree to call a special national congress.”— zineg@dispatch.co.za, siyam@dispatch.co.za
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