The National Office Bearers (NOBs) of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) condemn the spurious and misleading story in today’s Sowetan “Cosatu affiliates turn up the heat on Vavi”.
The story is based on false information and deliberately twisted discussions by cowardly individuals who claim to be part of the meeting involving Affiliates’ Presidents and General Secretaries. We view the story as part of a well-calculated and continuous offensive to publicly smear, humiliate and embarrass the General Secretary comrade Vavi.
Furthermore, we view this as divisive political and dirty work done by certain forces inside and outside of COSATU, who are desperately wanting to send COSATU to a permanent political slumber amidst the many scandalous and serious challenges faced by the working class and the poor in the country.
These forces see General Secretary comrade Vavi as a threat to their self-centered political agendas, and want to use COSATU as a bargaining political power elsewhere, at the expense of the workers and the poor.
Those forces inside and outside COSATU who miserably failed in their endeavors to have comrade Vavi dethroned as General Secretary in the 2012 COSATU National Congress, , now want to go behind the backs of their members who demonstrated confidence in the leadership of comrade Vavi, to use the smaller leadership of the COSATU Central Executive Committee (CEC) to stage a coup. Workers shall see these shenanigans for exactly what they represent. Numsa shall battle or fight with all our might not to turn Cosatu into a toothless labour desk.
As Numsa, we refuse to allow COSATU to be used by greedy and power-hungry individuals who have lust for positions of power in the broad liberation movement and the state. We will never allow COSATU to be relegated to be a Sub-Deployment Committee of any organisation.
But we want a COSATU that fearlessly and militantly advances and champions a revolutionary programme guided by the Freedom Charter geared towards improving the living conditions of our people, including fighting corruption vigorously and unashamedly.
We want to state categorically that the COSATU General Secretary comrade Vavi is not being investigated by the CEC. The General Secretary continues to enjoy public confidence and support from the workers across all affiliates.
We reiterate the call made by COSATU’s NOBs to be given space to address issues internally.
Contact:
Castro Ngobese, National Spokesperson – 081 011 1137