COSATU has finally bid farewell to its former general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and metalworkers’ union Numsa.
Yesterday the conference walls at Gallgaher Estate in Johannesburg, where federation held its meeting reverberated with song, celebrating the congress decision to uphold their expulsions.
They sang: “Le utlwile taba tse monate, hore Numsa ya tsamaya, ha e tsamaye (did you hear good news, that Numsa is going. Let them go! They also sang “Hamba Kahle (go well) Vavi, Vavi we Numsa.
Some delegates even held small posters with #VaviMustFall.
Despite pleas from the Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Fawu), the lone voice that wanted Numsa reinstated, the majority of affiliates roundly rejected Numsa.
Only 67 delegates voted for Numsa to be brought back, while more than 900 wanted them out; while more than 1100 delegates wanted Vavi to remain out of the federation.
Police and Civil Rights Union even went to the extent of saying Numsa should be “permanently removed” after they failed to show remorse when initially thrown out.
But the National Union of Mineworkers, which had long running battles with Numsa, said the metalworkers should be brought back if they were prepared to play by the rules.
SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union deputy general secretary Nicholus Maziya said: “We want to say goodbye to Zwelinzima.”
However, Fawu maintained that Numsa was expelled for dumping the ANC.
Fawu general secretary Katishi Masemola said many Cosatu affiliates were guilty of poaching and organising in the same sectors, which were some of the reasons why Numsa was kicked out.
Fawu general secretary said they would remain in Cosatu, though.
“We will stay in Cosatu but we are going to do the postmortem to look at how the congress was conducted and reflect about the challenges in Cosatu.”
After singing songs in conference against the expulsion of Numsa, part of the Fawu delegation walked out.
Vavi, Numsa expulsion endorsed
Yesterday the conference walls at Gallgaher Estate in Johannesburg, where federation held its meeting reverberated with song, celebrating the congress decision to uphold their expulsions.
They sang: “Le utlwile taba tse monate, hore Numsa ya tsamaya, ha e tsamaye (did you hear good news, that Numsa is going. Let them go! They also sang “Hamba Kahle (go well) Vavi, Vavi we Numsa.
Some delegates even held small posters with #VaviMustFall.
Despite pleas from the Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Fawu), the lone voice that wanted Numsa reinstated, the majority of affiliates roundly rejected Numsa.
Only 67 delegates voted for Numsa to be brought back, while more than 900 wanted them out; while more than 1100 delegates wanted Vavi to remain out of the federation.
Police and Civil Rights Union even went to the extent of saying Numsa should be “permanently removed” after they failed to show remorse when initially thrown out.
But the National Union of Mineworkers, which had long running battles with Numsa, said the metalworkers should be brought back if they were prepared to play by the rules.
SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union deputy general secretary Nicholus Maziya said: “We want to say goodbye to Zwelinzima.”
However, Fawu maintained that Numsa was expelled for dumping the ANC.
Fawu general secretary Katishi Masemola said many Cosatu affiliates were guilty of poaching and organising in the same sectors, which were some of the reasons why Numsa was kicked out.
Fawu general secretary said they would remain in Cosatu, though.
“We will stay in Cosatu but we are going to do the postmortem to look at how the congress was conducted and reflect about the challenges in Cosatu.”
After singing songs in conference against the expulsion of Numsa, part of the Fawu delegation walked out.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos