Drop the so called Charges against Comrade Vavi, Take Action against Corruption in Government!
SAMWU the largest Local Government Union in its CEC meeting expressed outrage at the alleged decision by the National Working Committee of the ANC to lay disciplinary charges against the General Secretary of COSATU, Comrade Zwelinzima Vavi. The charges are allegedly in response to Comrade Zweli speaking out on behalf of COSATU about the need for Government to respond swiftly and appropriately to allegations of corruption within Government.
Comrade Vavi drew attention to the fact that there are very serious perceptions in our communities about Government being ‘soft' on corruption, especially when it involves senior Government officials and representatives. The attack is not only about comrade Vavi and COSATU; it is an attack on COSATU affiliates and the working class, similar to the apartheid tactics used by the former regime. It is also a threat to the economic development of our people.
It is important to stress that Comrade Vavi was speaking out completely on the mandate of the recent Central Executive Committee of COSATU. In sharp contrast to those on the National Working Committee who clearly feel threatened by his words, Comrade Vavi had a mandate to raise the issues he did. His mandate was arrived at, through robust and vigorous debate at the COSATU CEC.
We publicly challenge those who have initiated the so called charges against Comrade Vavi to state where they derived their mandate and to declare in whose interests they are motivated. We are convinced that the vast majority of our people who live in poor and working class communities will wholeheartedly agree with the COSATU position, and Comrade Vavi's articulation of it.
This Union believes that Comrade Zweli should be congratulated and not be disciplined, for speaking out against corruption, and crass materialism. This is absolutely in line with the mandate he was given by the Cosatu Central Executive Committee meeting.
We demand an immediate investigation into the areas of corruption, as identified by the COSATU CEC.
Anyone who has contact with poor and working class communities knows that this issue is regarded as one of the most serious challenges we face. Corruption is rightly seen as being a cancer, and a threat to our hard earned democracy. It is also a threat to the economic development for all. Corruption is held responsible for the theft of resources away from service delivery and other measures that are supposed to relieve the plight of the poor.
The laying of disciplinary charges is not just an attack on the integrity of Comrade Vavi, but also on the autonomy and independence of COSATU and its right to speak out on behalf of its constituency. We declare that we will not be silenced, especially by those who are in the business of accumulating wealth for themselves and their cronies.
Rather than referring charges against the COSATU leadership, the National Working Committee should listen to the people it purports to represent, and lead by example. It must encourage an investigation of corruption whenever it is alleged, and especially in relation to Government and in the ANC.
We demand the immediate dropping of the so called charges and the furnishing of a public apology to Comrade Vavi and to the Federation he represents. Anything less is completely unacceptable and it will lead to the federation having to review its relationship with the alliance. As SAMWU we have resolved that comrade Vavi should not be subjected to a disciplinary hearing. If they want to pursue charges against Vavi they should instead discipline the entire COSATU CEC.
We will never be intimidated and we will stand by our leaders that we have elected!
For further comment contact Walter Theledi SAMWU's Deputy General Secretary on 0825586580
Statement issued by Tahir Sema, South African Municipal Workers' Union, National Media and Publicity Officer, June 2 2010
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