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