SAMWU Unapologetically Welcomes Vavi Expulsion

09 April 2015

The South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU) notes and unapologetically welcomes the expulsion of Zwelinzima Vavi as the General Secretary of COSATU. We are fully behind the decisions COSATU Special CEC held 30 -31 March and own up to the collective decisions of the CEC.

Mr Vavi behaved in the manner which was divisive of the federation and in particular causing and deepening divisions in unions affiliated to COSATU. We regret running around and defending the hyena that he is. When he was caught fornicating in COSATU offices, during office hours, he disguised and portrayed himself as a victim of political assassination while knowing very well that he had ulterior motives. He tricked unions into believing that he was a genuine leader while knowing very well that he had tricks up his sleeves. 

Vavi thinks he is important, he thinks he controls the South African labour movement. We are not surprised that a narcissist like Vavi harboured ambitions of becoming the country's president. We are convinced that Vavi is a bitter man who is now running around and crying foul all because he did not get what he wanted. The decisions of the COSATU CEC should be a stark reminder to Vavi that he is not bigger than the federation, that leaders have come and gone and COSATU remains. 

We were not surprised that we saw Patrick Craven facilitation the press conference which Vavi convened last week. We are now even more convinced that Patrick has been serving an individual instead of the federation, which is what we have always suspected. We are however taken aback that there was an individual by the name of Gati Malete who claims to represent members of SAMWU. For the record, Gati does neither represents SAMWU nor hold any leadership position in the union. This disgruntled individual is not even a Shopsteward of the union. She claims to be representing members of the union, the only people she is representing are disgruntled former leaders of the union who do not want to accept that they were dealt with constitutionally.

The SAMWU CEC held in March this year made it clear that Vavi faces serious allegations, the CEC further pronounced that he should answer to such allegations. Instead of defending himself and fulfilling his contractual obligations as an employee of the federation, Vavi neglected his duties as the General Secretary.  Instead of fulfilling his duties, Vavi called a press conference last Sunday claiming to be making "an important announcement", we were surprised that he only called the press conference to tell the country that he would not be going to work the following day.

It was in that press conference that he alleged that SAMWU Deputy General Secretary went to Brazil to watch the FIFA World Cup at union expense while the truth is that the DGS was attending the BRICS Trade Union Forum in Fortaleza at the invitation of COSATU. In fact this is the same meeting that Vavi was also present in, he too went to Fortaleza. Does he them imply that he too was in Brazil for the World Cup?

In delivering his ridiculous speech, he said that the county as a whole is in a crisis. The country cannot be in a crisis just because one man has been fired from his job. He is not the first person to lose his job, many have and unfortunately many will. To show just how important he thinks he is, he now thinks that South Africa is in a crisis because of him. He is no different to all workers in South Africa.

We have learnt through his press conference that NUMSA will be taking COSATU to court on the issue of the Special National Congress (SNC). We believe that the union federation does not have a case to answer to as dates for the SNC have been set. We urge COSATU to defend itself from NUMSA which is no longer an affiliate of COSATU and as such has no say in the affairs of COSATU.

In line with the COSATU CEC, Mr Vavi will not be allowed to attend or address any of SAMWU meetings.  We urge our members to resist being addressed or listen to him. Vavi has been dismissed from the federation as a result of his narcissist tendencies, he will go down the history books of the federation as the first to have been fired. We are not apologetic or sympathetic and fully believe that he deserves what came his way. The expulsion is befitting for an individual who thought of himself as the Superman of COSATU. The federation is bigger than any individual and cannot be held to ransom by him. 

Statement issued by Walter Theledi, SAMWU General Secretary, April 9 2015

SAMWU Distances itself from the Group of 8 Unions

The South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU) has learnt through media reports of the Shopsteward Council that has been convened by Vavi and other unions in Western Cape. SAMWU distances itself from this grouping and affirms that we are in no way aligned to the narrow interests of Vavi.

Vavi is no longer the General Secretary of COSATU and as such should not be addressing workers organised by COSATU affiliated unions. We therefore urge our members not to attend any of the meetings convened by this grouping. Our members should resist from being lured by disgruntled former leaders of the union who claim to be saving SAMWU while they know very well that their intentions are to distabilise the union so they can recruit members to their union which just mushroomed from nowhere.

SAMWU members should accept the expulsion of Zwelinzima Vavi from COSATU and also that of NUMSA. Vavi has been a divisive leader of the federation, a leader who thought he was untouchable, a leader who disowned decisions of the federation. Leaders have come and gone in the federation but COSATU remains COSATU. The federation cannot be held at ransoms by a single individual with a bruised ego.

We urge our members to be disciplined and committed to the stability of SAMWU and COSATU. Members of the media should desist from being bias, sensationalist and divisive in their reporting. We have on numerous instances distanced ourselves from this grouping and until such a time that SAMWU constitutional meetings take a different stance, such a stance will be communicated. Any individual who aligns themselves with this grouping will not be acting on behalf of SAMWU as we have no decision to support division.

Statement issued by Papikie Mohale, SAMWU National Media Officer, April 9 2015

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