ANA reports that SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, who is on a recruitment drive, has sarcastically “thanked” the rival Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) for expelling him.
Vavi and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) were expelled from Cosatu over two years ago, which led in turn to the formation of Saftu. “Maybe if they did not expel us we will be still be living in false hope,” Vavi said on Tuesday while addressing members of the SA Liberated Public Sector Workers Union (Salipswu) in Potchefstroom. On an apparent recruiting mission, the former Cosatu general secretary welcomed workers who left Cosatu-affiliate Nehawu to join Salipswu. Separately, the Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers of SA (Demawusa) and the Municipal and Allied Trade Union of SA (Matusa), which both serve municipal workers and are affiliated to Saftu, will be merged. Vavi also said three more unions have shown interest in joining Saftu.
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