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How Long Can Vavi Remain in Cosatu without Numsa

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the country’s largest trade federation in partnership with the ruling African National Congress (ANC), expelled its largest member, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA). Tensions within Cosatu came to a head when the federation’s leaders tried to oust General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi in August 2013. They suspended him for having an extra-marital affair with an employee he hired and accused him of alleged misconduct related to the procurement of Cosatu’s headquarters. Vavi apologized for the affair, while denying any other wrongdoing. The High Court in Johannesburg overturned his suspension on April 4. The expulsion comes after NUMSA withdrew its support for the ANC four months before the 2014 national elections, in which the ANC won with a reduced majority of 62 percent. The 345,590-member Numsa failed to halt the expulsion through an interdict filed at the South Gauteng High Court on Oct. 31. Before his suspension, Vavi was a primary critic of President Jacob Zuma, while Cosatu's president Sdumo Dlamini was known for being pro-Zuma.

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