Statement: SAFTU Affiliated Unions In Defense of the SAFTU Constitution and the Unconstitutional Suspension of
SAFTU GS
We, the leaders of the unions affiliated to the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) and members of the National Executive Committee representing the following SAFTU affiliated Trade Unions,
· FAWU
· DETAWU
· NUPSAW
· SALIPSWU
· THORN
· ICTU
· CSAAWU
· DEMAWUSA
· APSA
· DEPACU
· CWAWU
· TASWU
· VIWU
We
are inspired to learn that another Saftu affiliated Union SACOSWU, has joined
us and petitioned the leadership in calling for the retraction of Mac’s letter
and hands off our General Secretary and we know that most affiliates will still
join us.
We
felt it necessary to take this unprecedented step to address our members through
this media briefing in order to address a matter that has gained prominence in the
public discourse.
A
group of factionalists inside our beloved federation decided to leak to the
media a misguided and ill-advised letter with the intent to suspend the General
Secretary, cde Zwelinzima Vavi. Most of our members have seen this letter
penned by the SAFTU President, Mac Chavalala.
The
letter mischievously and maliciously sought to portray and smear the SAFTU
General Secretary as possibly corrupt and to face a possible suspension to
answer to a series of so-called misdemeanours including trampling on the SAFTU
Constitution, undermining the decisions of the constitutional structures,
assuming the National Congress, Central Committee and the National Executive
Committee.
SAFTU
is made up of the unions that have come together by nine principles. Amongst
these is that the federation will be workers controlled. Worker control amongst
others means internal democracy as prescribed by the SAFTU constitution. Each
structure is given prescribed responsibilities in what we fondly call the red
book of the workers.
In
terms of this constitution, the power to suspend the National Office Bearers exclusively
resides in the National Executive Committee.
Clause
3.3.5 of the SAFTU constitution is explicit in dealing with the suspension of
an office bearer and it states the following under the power and duties of the
National Executive Committee that the NEC may:
“suspend
any office-bearer or official of the Federation for sufficient cause until the
matter is decided at the next meeting of the Central Committee.”
Furthermore,
chapter 9 of the SAFTU constitution under clause 1.2.1 states that the NEC may:
Demand
the recall of any National, Provincial, local office bearers or who serve on
any outside body if such is demanded by two-thirds of the affiliates, if
1.2.1.1.
The member violates the constitution of the Federation or in any way brings it
into disrepute;
1.2.1.2.
If the Federation consider that the person is working against the best interest
of the working class.
Having
taken the mentioned constitutional clauses into serious consideration we could only
arrive at one conclusion,
We
reject with the contempt it deserves the attempt of some National Office
Bearers to usurp this power of the National Executive Committee. The SAFTU
General Secretary cannot be suspended by his own colleagues. That power to take
disciplinary action is a preserve and a sole prerogative of the National
Executive Committee.
We
place it on record that as affiliates we have directed the General Secretary to
disregard the unconstitutional and unmandated letter of intent to place him on
a precautionary suspension and continue with his duties as if nothing has
happened.
Our
memories are still fresh in remembering that some SAFTU unions were victims of
similar practises in COSATU where the constitutions of their unions were simply
ignored when factions pursued their reactionary agenda.
The
launch of SAFTU was a rejection of these practises that have led to
fragmentation of trade unions and the formation of splinter groups that weaken
the voice of workers.
We
reject bureaucratism even when comoflouged as democratic centralism.
We
are opposed to corruption as a matter of principle but we are also opposed to
using that principle to advance factional agendas that are designed to collapse
the unity of the workers in general and SAFTU in particular.
As
disciplined affiliates of SAFTU, we shall decisively deal with the
unprecedented unlawful and unconstitutional conduct of the SAFTU President and
his team in the normal SAFTU National Executive Committee scheduled for 24-25
March 2022.
We
want to assure our members that SAFTU is here to stay despite the efforts of
rogue elements to derail our efforts to build an independent, strong, militant,
radical, socialist-oriented and worker-controlled SAFTU.
Our
message is very clear, those who are behind the reactionary attempts to
collapse SAFTU in the interest of Capital, the State or any other interest must
stop now or else they will find us ready and they shall be exposed and defeated.
If
they work for someone, we will hit the dog so hard that the owner will have no
choice but to come out and as he comes out he/she shall be subjected to the
same biting.
Hands
off SAFTU hands-off. Hands off Zwelinzima Vavi hands off
End.
