South African union federation general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi gave a bravura performance for the media yesterday, insisting that he won’t “run away.”

The scandal-dogged Cosatu leader had called a media conference to make “an important announcement,” giving many to believe he would announce his resignation.

Cosatu’s central executive committee is holding a special meeting today to which Mr Vavi had been called to explain why he boycotted the federation’s last high-level meeting.

The general secretary, who faces nine disciplinary charges, including bringing Cosatu into disrepute by having sex with a junior employee in his workplace and for financial irregularities, has already said that he will not attend this meeting.

“This is a deliberate act of defiance on my part, even if in the end it turns out to be symbolic,” he told his media conference.

“It sends a message to workers that we must refuse to hand the organisation over on a platter and must only walk away when all alternatives to rescue it have been exhausted.”

Mr Vavi claimed his employers “wish I would resign so they could have parties with their expensive champagne.”

He added: “They think I’m going to run away. I’m not going to run away.”

The conference was attended by members of the Numsa metalworkers’ union who sang pro-Vavi songs.

Numsa was expelled from Cosatu for poaching members from other affiliates, but its general secretary has campaigned against this decision.

The expelled union plans to found a party to replace the Communist Party and African National Congress.

by Our Foreign Desk