/ 14 August 2007

Vavi apologises over ‘dying on duty’ comments

Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi’s comments on Cabinet ministers who died on duty were never intended to show disrespect to them, the trade union federation said on Tuesday.

”These comments were in no way intended to show disrespect to those ministers who passed away while holding office in the government and Zwelinzima Vavi apologises unreservedly to the families of these comrades, and all others concerned, for any offence that may have been caused,” Cosatu said in a statement.

In his weekend address to the congress of the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (Sactwu), Vavi said that some ministers were ”deadwoods who remain untouchable”, and that some were ”dying on duty”.

His statement was prompted by the sacking of deputy health minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge by President Thabo Mbeki last week.

While Cosatu retracted its secretary general’s remarks on ministers who died on duty, the federation said it was still of the view that there was some ”deadwood” in Mbeki’s Cabinet.

”Cosatu wishes to place on record, however, that there are some ministers who are not performing to that high standard and that part of the statement will not be withdrawn.

”We will not remain silent about government ministers or government policies when they are not serving the interests of the working class and the poor majority of South Africans,” Cosatu said. — Sapa