VAVI APPROACHES THE LAW COURTS ABOUT HIS SUSPENSION

Reluctantly and regrettably, I met last night with my lawyers and instructed them to challenge my continued suspension from my elected position as COSATU general secretary in the South Gauteng High Court of South Africa. The papers, applying for me to be added as an interested party as an applicant in the case of NUMSA versus COSATU, were filed in court and served to all the attorneys of the relevant parties in the matter at noon today.

In addition to joining the case, albeit for different reasons to those advanced by NUMSA, I've also asked for immediate relief in my papers.

In essence, if I'm admitted as an applicant, I'm asking the High Court to grant an interim order interdicting and restraining the federation from in any way enforcing, acting upon or putting into execution any decision purportedly taken at the COSATU central executive committee meeting of the 14 August 2013, and final relief to review and set aside the purported decision to suspend me and to institute disciplinary proceedings against me. 

Having spent the bulk of my life - 5 years in the congress movement and 12 of these as COSATU general secretary - I have taken this extraordinary decision with a heavy heart. Never did it cross my mind that one day I will be left with no choice but to use courts of law to defend my rights against an organisation I have dedicated my whole adult life building.  

All my life I have fought for the dignity and justice of ordinary workers. It is therefore with a deep sense of irony that I find myself having to assert my rights in the courts of law against the very same federation that is supposed to champion and safeguard workers-rights.

Statement issued by John Dludlu, the family spokesman, on behalf of Mr Zwelinzima Vavi, September 13 2013

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