Sunday Independant
*Ugly exchanges at COSATU meeting* *Moffet Mofokeng and George Matlala, Sunday Independant, 29 April 2012*COSATU general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi came under severe criticism during the federation's meeting, which deteriorated into personal, ugly invectives between union leaders.
At the heart of the exchanges was that Vavi was accused of consistently singling out and attacking health workers' union, Nehawu.
Nehawu contradicted the federation's objection against some aspects of the Protection of State Information Bill, accusing Vavi of taking an oppositional stance.
Vavi said labelling Cosatu as oppositional is an implicit accusation that the federation, or its leaders, are pursuing a hidden agenda to change the regime of President Jacob Zuma at the ANC elective conference in Mangaung. Nehawu has publicly endorsed Zuma's second-term bid, while Vavi is said to be against his re-election.
During Monday's central committee meeting Vavi complained that the federation took decisions which are binding on all leaders, but Nehawu general secretary Fikile Majola and president Mzwandile Makwayiba defied their mother body.
Four sources -- two of whom attended the meeting -- confirmed to The Sunday Independant that the exchanges between Vavi and Majola were ugly and divisive.
Another source said Majola warned Vavi not to engage in "cut-throat politics" because he did "not know whose throat is going to be cut".
"At the last bilateral between Cosatu and the SACP, Vavi told the SACP delegation that 'if you slap me on my right cheek, I will never turn the other one. I will fight back.' And... Majola used the comment and said, we too will never turn the other cheek. We will go pound for pound," the source said.
During the meeting, Vavi said: "You can't help but see there are divisions in the federation."
In his response to Vavi, Majola complained that Vavi had singled out Nehawu as the source of the divisions within the federation.
"I really don't want to speak on this matter," said Majola. Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven and Vavi could not be reached for comment. *From: http://www.salabournews.co.za/index.php/home/latest-news/70-labour-news/4201-ugly-personal-exchanges-at-cosatus-central-committee-meeting.html
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