Financial Mail reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has suspended its general secretary, William Mabapa.

He was suspended on 28 July, apparently for authorising a flight for a delegate from the Eastern Cape to attend a conference of the union’s youth wing in Joburg. He was suspended with full pay, pending the outcome of an investigation into his conduct. Insiders sympathetic to Mabapa say the charges against him are “absurd” and “frivolous”. A document outlining his supposed wrongdoing was presented to and adopted by the NUM national executive committee last Wednesday. In it, Mabapa is accused of “misuse of power, mismanagement of funds, bringing the union into disrepute, sowing division and misuse of power”. NUM president Dan Baipile confirmed Mabapa’s suspension on Wednesday, but refused to give details of the allegations against Mabapa or the matter that led to his suspension. Sources say NUM appears to be “imploding” – its leadership is inaccessible due to debilitating internal fights and its members have no direction, particularly from the national office. Seemingly, the current power play is largely orchestrated by NUM deputy general secretary Mpho Phakedi, who, along with his allies, is seeking to replace Mabapa.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Natasha Marrian at Financial Mail

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page