Cosatu General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has stated unequivocally that he will not resign from the beleaguered federation. Vavi called a press conference on Sunday to make “an important announcement” and speculation had been rife that he would be leaving the body.
Instead, he told reporters: “Of course they wish that I can resign so that they can have their parties across their country with the expensive champagne because they have convinced themselves that I’m going to run away . . . This is a deliberate act of defiance on my part, even if in the end it turns out to be symbolic . . . It sends a message to workers that we must refuse to hand the organisation over on a platter, and must not only walk away when all alternatives to rescue it have been exhausted.” An impassioned Vavi added: “It no longer matters who is wrong or right. What is at stake here is the future of the working class as a whole.”
He also revealed that the federation is facing financial problems as a result of the expulsion of National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) in November 2014. “Cosatu is currently living off R300 000 a month beyond its income. Cosatu staff could only be paid in February and March by raiding the Political Fund designed for other purposes . . . this source will dry up soon.” Numsa, with the biggest membership of over 350 000 members, has been withholding its monthly R11-million payment to Cosatu, he explained.
Instead, he told reporters: “Of course they wish that I can resign so that they can have their parties across their country with the expensive champagne because they have convinced themselves that I’m going to run away . . . This is a deliberate act of defiance on my part, even if in the end it turns out to be symbolic . . . It sends a message to workers that we must refuse to hand the organisation over on a platter, and must not only walk away when all alternatives to rescue it have been exhausted.” An impassioned Vavi added: “It no longer matters who is wrong or right. What is at stake here is the future of the working class as a whole.”
He also revealed that the federation is facing financial problems as a result of the expulsion of National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) in November 2014. “Cosatu is currently living off R300 000 a month beyond its income. Cosatu staff could only be paid in February and March by raiding the Political Fund designed for other purposes . . . this source will dry up soon.” Numsa, with the biggest membership of over 350 000 members, has been withholding its monthly R11-million payment to Cosatu, he explained.
