The President of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), Mac Chavalala, says the notice of intent to place Saftu’s General-Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi on precautionary suspension is not politically motivated.
In a letter to Saftu office bearers and executive committee, he says according to the federation’s constitution, only the national executive committee (NEC) has the powers to suspend national office bearers.
Vavi has assured workers that attempts to collapse the labour federation will fail.
Secretary-General Zwelinzima Vavi rejects SAFTU plans to place him on suspension: Mac Chavalala
Several unions affiliated with Saftu have voiced their opposition to the suspension.
“We believe that he should be suspended. Vavi is an employee of the federation which has policies that guide it in terms of how the finances of the federation must be used. We were very clear in the letter that we wrote to him, the intent to suspend. We mentioned both the finance policy and the constitution. There is no politics here. I don’t know where this thing with NUMSA and him being a victim is coming from. There is no politics whatsoever here,” says Chavalala.
Saftu’s Vavi responds to his possible suspension
