All of us should have learnt some lessons from the commotion at Cosatu House over the weekend. It seemed that the federation, with its 21 affiliated trade unions and 2 million members, was tearing itself apart, with grave consequences for its "ally," the ANC.
Actually, this did not happen. Cosatu's long-standing general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, was sent off on indefinite leave to await a disciplinary hearing on a sexual harassment complaint. No mass protests have been reported.
It appears that twice in the departure hall of Cape Town airport, Vavi spotted an attractive 26-year-old woman behind one of the desks, and in that imperious way some trade union bosses behave, he improperly (?) offered - and found - her a job with Cosatu.
You can guess the rest. The woman later alleged rape, and then withdrew her complaint. Vavi said anyway it was consensual. For all the public knows he awaits possible hanging. His mates say there will be no retreat - Vavi will leave a scorched earth behind him. If there is one asset Vavi has never lacked, it is vocal chords.
What is it with these politicians (world-wide)? At critical moments in their careers they unzip their pants - and a world crashes down on them and their families.
No doubt Vavi has a point about those gunning for him. He and his followers are anti the Zuma camp, unlike Cosatu's president, S'dumo Dlamini, who firmly backs the ANC leader. Vavi suspects the ANC wants to disable him and his followers before next year's elections when, incidentally, Zuma's five-year term as SA's president expires.