There have been mixed reactions from Grahamstown's three Cosatu affiliates – Sadtu, National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) and South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) – to the recent suspension of Cosatu Secretary General Zwelinzima Vavi.
There have been mixed reactions from Grahamstown's three Cosatu affiliates – Sadtu, National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) and South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) – to the recent suspension of Cosatu Secretary General Zwelinzima Vavi.
The Dispatch reported recently that Thobile Ntola, president of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) and a strong Vavi supporter, had been suspended after addressing union members at a meeting in East London where Vavi apologised for his alleged affair.
Some observers believe the move may signal a political purge of Vavi's supporters.
In Grahamstown three of the union’s affiliates – Sadtu, Nehawu and Samwu – expressed mixed feelings about the verdict and the future of the umbrella body. Lungile Klaas, a switchboard operator and senior Samwu member, said he was extremely disappointed.
“He [Vavi] is clearly a scapegoat. I understand the nature of the offence, it’s the punishment I have a problem with,” said Klaas. “It is clear that you can’t criticise the government any more.” Klaas said Samwu stands firmly behind the secretary general. “We say, hands off! We’ll keep on supporting him. He’s stood against corruption in the Cabinet and has been a champion of the poor and the working class.”
A member of Nehawu, who wanted to remain anonymous, was dismissive of Vavi and said his conduct was indicative of a “morally deprived” leader. “How can you trust a man like that? If he’s going to sleep with our women, God knows what else he’s capable of,” he said.
On Wednesday at the Samwu protest Ayanda Kota, representative of the Unemployed People's Movement (UPM), addressed members of various unions who had gathered in front of the city hall.
"Voices like Samwu are important. They are like the voice of Vavi. So we must work together to put him back in his position," said Kota. Cracks within the national executive of Cosatu deepened last Friday when in a press release Vavi accused state institutions of using unions to drive personal party agendas.
He revealed an ‘intelligence report’ allegedly circulated among union leaders aimed at discrediting him.
