SowetanLive reports that embattled trade union federation Saftu is set to face a legal battle over its decision to suspend four of its six national office bearers after it accused them of bringing the federation into disrepute.

Saftu's national executive committee (NEC) said the union's president Mac Chavalala, second deputy president Thabo Matsose, deputy general secretary Moleko Phakedi and national treasurer Motshwari Lecogo orchestrated the suspension of general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi earlier this month over accusations of abusing the federation’s credit card, among other things. The NEC has reversed that decision and accused the four officers of acting outside of their powers in a bid to target Vavi. The internal battle for the control of the federation comes as Saftu prepares for its national elective congress scheduled for 22 May, with Vavi seeking a second term. But his bid does not enjoy the backing of the federation’s biggest affiliate, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and its general secretary Irvin Jim. Apparently, four unions are planning to wage a legal battle against the decision to suspend the four officials, as they insist that they acted in line with the federation’s disciplinary code and procedures by instituting suspension proceedings against Vavi. Numsa, the SA Policing Union (Sapu), the Municipal and Allied Trade Union of SA (Matusa) and the SA Industrial Commercial and Allied Workers Union (Saicwu) are the unions pushing against the decision. The suspension of the four officials is set to be indefinite as the federation has no plans to hold a central committee meeting before its national elective conference, where their terms would end. Only the Saftu central committee can institute disciplinary action against federation officials.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siviwe Feketha at SowetanLive

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