Vavi to challenge suspension and pursue charges

Kgothatso Madisa

@Kgmadisa

Zwelinzima Vavi addresses the media.

Zwelinzima Vavi has every intentions of challenging the decision by Congress of SA Trade Union (Cosatu) to suspend him, reporters heard on Friday at the Parktonian Hotel in Johannesburg.

Cosatu’s Central Executive Committee suspended Vavi on Wednesday pending a hearing after he admitted to having sex with a junior worker in the Cosatu House.

Vavi said that he will be challenging the decision because he believes it was prejudice and it trampled on his rights.

“A number of affiliate leaders prejudiced themselves in that they clearly had influence by the so-called intelligence report circulated by the president.

“The decision to suspend me in order to launch an investigation is unfair and invalid and has

Vavi left out in the cold, for how long? No one knows

Kgothatso Madisa

@kgmadisa

Suspended Zwelinzima Vavi. Picture: Twitter

Cosatu’s General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has been officially placed on “special leave” pending a disciplinary hearing after admitting to having sex with a junior worker at the Cosatu House.

Vavi was suspended yesterday at a Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting which was attended by most of Cosatu’s affiliates.

Responding to a question about the meeting being null and void due to pronouncing the outcome before hand, federation’s president Sdumo Dlamini reiterated that the meeting was legal and recognised as well as the decision to suspend Vavi.

“Special CEC was convened following Cosatu’s constitution, did the matter discuss the complains of other affiliates on whether this was convened properly or not? The answer is yes and the meeting agreed that it was properly constituted”

Cosatu said that they have decided to suspend both Vavi and the staff member in question

Weekend Soccer Wrap

Kgothatso Madisa
@kgmadisa

A lot of South African soccer fans filled different stadiums and clogged up the airwaves for an extremely busy sporting weekend.

Chiefs limps over Aces
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) 2013-14 season commenced on Friday with defending champions Kaizer Chiefs taking on the newly promoted Mpumalanga Black Aces in a match of the champions.

Although Aces have just been promoted to top flight football, they surely gave Chiefs a good run for their money, allowing the champions only one early goal by Bernard Parker. 

One particular player that turned out to be problematic for Chiefs was Mabhuti Khenyeza who was fielded by the Aces despite the player being suspended for 12 months. Chiefs will be taking the matter forward.

The match ended 1 - 0 to Chiefs.


Refs arrested on their way to a match
Fans had to wait one more to catch the match between Platinum Stars and Wits University after the referees officiating the game were arrested for driving a vehicle reported as stolen.

The match which was scheduled to start at 3pm had to be postponed to 4pm and another officials had to be called in.

"The car transporting the referees to the game was reported stolen and as a result the match officials were reportedly arrested and taken to a police station in Pretoria," www.MTNFootball.com reported.

The match ended in a goalless draw.

Pirates thrash Al Ahly
After CAF denied a request by Al Ahly to postpone the match because the players were fasting since it is a month of Ramadan.

The match however went ahead and saw Pirates sail to a comfortable 3 - 0 win over the Egyptian club. Thandani Ntshumayelo, Andile Jali (penalty) and Sifiso Myeni scored comfortable goals to see their team win the first leg of the CAF Champions League first-leg.

Other games
Mamelodi Sundowns avenged their last season loss with a 3 - 1 win over Bloemfontein Celtics
SuperSport United wins 4 - 1 over Free State Stars.
Swallows 1 - 0 victory over University of Pretoria.