Municipal Workers ready to protect Vavi and his family

The largest Local Government Union, the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) is angered by the death threats its Federations General Secretary comrade Zwelinzima Vavi has received. The Union had learnt with shock and anger that there was a plan to poison him to death to cause chaos before Mangaung.

On behalf of our 190 000 members we remain ready and willing to protect our General Secretary cde Vavi wherever and whenever. We will wait for our Federation the Congress of South African Trade Unions to indicate what Municipal Workers can and ought to do to protect the lives of cde Vavi and his family. This is a decision which was taken by SAMWU's Central Executive Committee meeting held 11-13 Dec 2012 in Durban, Kwazulu Natal.

This threat which is the second of its kind in the past two years is an attack not only on Vavi and COSATU; it is an attack on COSATU affiliates and the working class, similar to the apartheid attacks and tactics used by the former regime pre 1994 and the countries liberation. It is also a threat to the economic development of our people and the emancipation of the working class and poor from poverty, unemployment and inequality.

We call on Major-General Chris Ngcobo, to give these plans to assassinate the General Secretary of COSATU top priority and ensure that the Government also provides increased protection for cde Vavi and his family.

SAMWU remains on high alert and ready to mobilise our membership in defence of our federations General Secretary.

An injury to one is an injury to all!

Statement issued by SAMWU's General Secretary Walter Theledi, December 14 2012

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