Court packed for Vavi Case

[LazyLion]

The High Court in Johannesburg was packed on Tuesday morning ahead of Numsa's application to have Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi's suspension overturned.

The seats were filled with people wearing shirts of different unions, including the National Union of Metalworkers of SA, the Food, and Allied Workers' Union (Fawu), and trade union federation the Congress of SA Trade Unions.

The courtroom was packed, with many people standing.

Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim was present and stood outside ahead of proceedings.

Security, and a justice department official were at the two doors to control the number of people entering the court.

Vavi was suspended last month, accused of bringing Cosatu into disrepute after he admitted to having an affair with an employee.

In court papers, Numsa called Vavi's suspension "unconstitutional and unprecedented".

Earlier this month, Jim said the union had been forced to take legal action as "Cosatu's internal and democratic processes are being undermined and flouted".

He said the decision to legally challenge Cosatu had not been made lightly, and it was not the preferred option of engagement after delegates called for Vavi's suspension in the February and May central executive committee meetings.

The Fawu and the SA Football Players' Union are listed as co-applicants in Numsa's court action.

There was no sign of Vavi on Tuesday morning.

Court was adjourned until 11.30am and it was not clear if the application would be heard on Tuesday


Source : Sapa /dm/tk/jje/jk
Date : 10 Sep 2013 10:59

 

[LazyLion]

Vavi Application Postponed

Numsa's application to have Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi's suspension overturned was postponed by the High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday after an application by opposing unions to intervene was allowed.

Addressing the unions present in court, Craig Watt-Pringle SC, for the intervening unions, said it had been agreed that the application be postponed indefinitely to allow them to file affidavits.

"The intervening unions have been allowed to intervene. The matter is likely to be set down for October 8," he said.

The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) was expected to file an opposing affidavit by October 2.

The intervening unions are the National Union of Mineworkers, the SA Democratic Teachers' Union, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union, the SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union, the Finance Union, and the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers' Union.

The court was packed with people wearing the T-shirts of various unions, including Numsa, the Food, and Allied Workers' Union, and the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu).

Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim was present and stood outside before the proceedings started.

During an adjournment, Jim spoke to Cosatu president Sidumo Dlamini.

Vavi was suspended last month for bringing Cosatu into disrepute after he admitted to having an affair with an employee.

In court papers, Numsa called Vavi's suspension "unconstitutional and unprecedented".

Fawu and the SA Football Players' Union are listed as co-applicants in Numsa's court action.

There was no sign of Vavi on Tuesday morning.


Source : Sapa /dm/tk/jk/cls
Date : 10 Sep 2013 12:27