SowetanLive reports that trade union leader Zwelinzima Vavi has allegedly been caught up in a new sex scandal involving an employee, which resulted in him getting a warning.
Apparently a cleaner who worked for the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) filed a sexual harassment complaint against Vavi after his alleged conduct caused her stress. Numsa is an affiliate of the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), of which Vavi is the general secretary. The complaint filed in September last year led to an informal inquiry against Vavi. He was slapped with a caution and had to apologise to the complainant. The details of the allegations made against Vavi and the processes followed thereafter are outlined in the Sowetan report. He allegedly gave union officials an assurance that he would be more careful in future as to how he interacted with employees. Responding to questions via a text message on Thursday, Vavi wrote: "That allegation is rejected as false. Interestingly, it was made last year and a due process was undertaken! At the end it was accepted by all parties that there has been a complete misunderstanding and the matter was accordingly put to rest. Interestingly, it's been resuscitated now for obvious reasons." In 2013, Vavi, at the time general secretary of Cosatu, admitted to having unprotected sex with a married junior employee who accused him of rape. The charges were later withdrawn.
- Read this report by Mpho Sibanyoni in full at SowetanLive
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