UNITED FRONT RESPONSE TO THE EXPULSION OF ZWELINZIMA VAVI FROM COSATU

As expected, yesterday the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) decided to expel Zwelinzima Vavi from his position as its General Secretary. The United Front (UF) regards this decision as the final nail in the regrettable terminal decline of what was once a mighty, principled, independent and militant federation of workers' trade unions.

COSATU will now continue as the labour desk of the African National Congress (ANC) with its militancy and independence finally killed. It is the view of the UF that at his height comrade Vavi was one of the most principled and committed leaders of COSATU post-1994. His expulsion will have a major impact on COSATU. He has paid the price for sticking out his neck to fight against the rise of the predatory elite and a crony capitalist state. His principled fight against corruption made him increasingly an enemy of the corrupt trade union bureaucracy that sits on the neck of workers.

The UF regards this crisis in COSATU as a reflection of sustained disintegration of working class organisation since 1994. This disintegration has primarily been driven by the failure of the post-1994 political and economic dispensation in protecting workers from systemic unemployment, starvation wages, exploitation and the neo-liberal restructuring of work. Compounding this was the failure of the trade union movement to adequately service members, organise farm workers, casual workers, informal workers and other marginalised workers.

Subjectively, many COSATU leaders were also coopted by employers, the government, the ANC and the South African Communist Party (SACP). Even with these weaknesses, COSATU still remained for many years an important voice in defence of worker demands, and broader social struggles. This was on the back of the unwavering resilience and ability of workers to consistently mobilise and fight for their rights, a living wage and broader social justice.

A collapsing COSATU can be a serious threat to workers' rights. This is perhaps the time that capital and the neo-liberal government will strike some of the most serious blows against workers, and seek to confuse and demoralise workers. Already, this is confirmed by government's attitude in the public service negotiations.

Vavi's expulsion is not the end of the story. It can be used to accelerate a process of re-organisation and re-alignment of the labour movement in South Africa. As the UF, we put out our hand of solidarity to all workers (inside and outside COSATU) for the renewal of militant anti-capitalist trade unionism.

Out of the wreckage of COSATU can emerge a renewed labour movement capturing the spirit of principled trade unionism, working class independence, political independence of the trade union movement, high quality service to members, democratic worker control, solidarity and militant struggle. This will also require workers to rise to the occasion where they can arrest and stop internal union corruption, sweetheart relations with management, and bureaucratisation.

Comrade Vavi may very well be found playing a critical role in this renewal. As he thinks about his future role, the UF also calls on him to be principled and to take responsibility and corrective measures for his own shortcomings. This applies to all activists and leaders.

The UF calls on all workers not to waste this crisis in COSATU. This is a moment to rebuild and assert working class confidence and power. The UF calls on workers to reclaim the coming May Day into a day of powerful working class solidarity and action against join important struggles against the major challenges that face ordinary and poor people in the country.

The UF fully supports the proposed Workers' Summit. Such a Summit will be an important moment to reflect and open the path to a revitalised trade union movement. In the UF, a renewed trade union movement will find a progressive home that unites the broad working class.

Statement issued by Kwezilomso Mbandazayo, UF National Co-Convenor, March 31 2015

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