Cosatu's second deputy president, Zingiswa Losi, who last week promised that Cosatu would campaign for the ANC ahead of next year's elections, has been suspended by her union, the National Union of Metalworkers South Africa (Numsa).
Losi is a shop steward for Numsa, the union backing Cosatu's suspended general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi in his bid to have his suspension overturned in court.
Losi is perceived to be close to Cosatu president Sidumo Dlamini, and the faction considered more sympathetic to President Jacob Zuma, and less critical of government.
Last week, the Mail & Guardian reported that Losi was one of three senior leaders in Cosatu, who Vavi's supporters want to see axed from their positions at a special Cosatu congress.
On Friday, the M&G reported that Cosatu would rally for the ANC in spite of the fact that President Jacob Zuma signed the contentious e-tolls Bill into law this week.
Losi said campaigning for the ANC was a Cosatu resolution that could only be changed at a conference.
Notice of suspension
It is not clear if Losi's suspension is related to Vavi officially.
Numsa's regional office in Port Elizabeth has accused Losi of bringing the organisation's name into disrepute.
On Friday, Losi said she had not received notice of her suspension and therefore could not comment. She also had not been informed verbally of the suspension, and had been continuing her duties as per normal, she said.
But Vusumusi Phetsha, Numsa's regional chairperson in Port Elizabeth confirmed receiving notice of Losi's suspension from the local office.
The M&G has seen both the letter sent to the Numsa regional secretary, informing the regional office bearers of the suspension, and the letter sent to Losi.
Losi's alleged offence was not specified in the letters.
The letter to Losi says the suspension is effective as of September 26 pending further investigation. The letter says the local office bearers received a mandate from the shop stewards in Port Elizabeth that she should be suspended.
Numsa spokesperson, Catro Ngobese, could not comment.
"We don't comment on leaked, internal matters. We cannot confirm or deny Zingiswa Losi's suspension as a shop steward. We don't run our internal affairs or matters via the media and leaks," he said.
Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven also declined to comment. – Additional reporting by Matuma Letsoalo