NUMSA stands by the implementation of transparent and lawful provisions of the COSATU Constitution presently flouted
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) as well as the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU) and South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) will be challenging the COSATU Central Executive Committee's failure to adhere to COSATU's constitutional prescripts, giving rise to the illegal suspension of comrade Zwelinzima Vavi, at the Gauteng South High Court to be held on 27 and 28 March 2014. This application is simultaneously supported by comrade Vavi in his personal capacity, as the fourth applicant in the matter.
We wish to reiterate our view that as far as we are concerned the suspension of comrade Vavi by the impromptu August 2013 Central Executive Committee (CEC) was contrived to avoid the required decision making processes contained in the COSATU Constitution. This action rides on the back of a political offensive by certain factions within the Federation against comrade Vavi, since its failed attempts to remove comrade Vavi from his elected position at the 11th National Congress of COSATU last held in September 2012.
Furthermore, we strongly condemn the manner in which comrade Vavi, has been treated by COSATU's National Office Bearers (NOBs'), in collaboration with certain Affiliates' leaders. This has clearly demonstrated that comrade Vavi's illegal suspension was a contrived strategy to remove him from the political arena.
The COSATU constitution is deliberately and continuously being flouted to achieve certain factional and political ends. The charges that were presented to COSATU General Secretary comrade Vavi, did not follow due processes in line with the established internal COSATU processes. For example, as an elected National Office Bearer, the decision to press disciplinary charges against comrade Vavi should have been taken by a properly constituted CEC of COSATU, and not by fellow NOBs', as was the case! This action is clearly outside the competence of the NOBs'.
In complete violation of comrade Vavi's right to a fair internal COSATU hearing, the charges were leaked to the media, in order to subject comrade Vavi to the court of public opinion, and to destroy his character and reputation.