Vavi dodges one bullet

It was all smiles and hugs at Zwelinzima Vavi's house yesterday as the Cosatu general secretary and his family celebrated the withdrawal of an allegation of sexual harassment against him.

Vavi, flanked by his wife, Noluthando, could not contain his excitement during an exclusive interview with The Times. As soon as his worried children arrived back from school, he announced to them that he was off the hook.

"That woman has just withdrawn the case against me," Vavi told his son as soon as he walked through the door.

The boy jumped with joy and hugged his father. The two remained in the embrace for more than a minute.

In the brief interview, Vavi warned his political nemeses that he was here to stay: "I am not going to resign from my position, it's not my family that elected me into the Cosatu position but our members.

"Of course my family and friends are extremely concerned about my safety, but I am not going to run away. I am not one of the generation of cowards," Vavi said.

He would "peruse" the extortion case he has had instituted against his accuser after she allegedly demanded R2-million from him.

Vavi's wife is seeking legal opinion on opening a defamation case against the woman.

"This woman called me a liar in her interview with the Sunday Times," said Noluthando Vavi. "She must be sure of her facts because my name doesn't come cheap. I will meet her in court."

Her husband added: "We are looking at possible criminal charges beyond the extortion case." A value could not be put on the damage the woman had done to the couple's reputation and good standing in society, he said.

Vavi became embroiled in a rape scandal after a former SAA employee he recruited to work at Cosatu House claimed that he had forced himself on her in her office in January.

Vavi has admitted to having sex with the 26-year-old mother of two but said it was consensual.

But even as he was celebrating at home with his family, a case of misconduct was still being prepared against him.

Cosatu officials close to the case told The Times yesterday that a misconduct charge would be pursued to get to the bottom of the scandal that had brought the labour federation into disrepute.

Two senior union officials said Vavi would have to answer questions about his sexual encounter with a subordinate and his hiring of her in the first place, reportedly without following Cosatu employment regulations.

"Our policies are clear and he knows them. We will look at the information at hand from both parties involved and decide what to do next," said a senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The woman, who cannot be named, withdrew her charges two hours into the Cosatu hearing after she was allegedly unable to answer questions put to her.

The ANC Women's League questioned the withdrawal of the sexual harassment complaint.

"The withdrawal of the complaint . is worrying and disconcerting. We are extremely concerned that this case will result in an immense setback for our national fight against the rape epidemic in our country and the persistent harassment of women in the workplace," the deputy president of the league, Nosipho Dorothy Ntwanambi, said.

Although the rape allegations had come to light via an internal grievance process, Cosatu might not be the most appropriate forum to investigate an allegation of rape properly, she said.

"Secondly, it was our view that Cosatu could not offer the comprehensive protection, support and assistance to the complainant, as would be the case within the legal system," Ntwanambi said.

But those in Cosatu who support Vavi said that they had been vindicated.

The SA Municipal Workers' Union said Vavi was being targeted because he had "dared to speak the truth to power". - Additional reporting Dominic Mahlangu and Sapa