The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has confirmed its reinstated general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, will be on the campaign trail in the run-up to the elections, encouraging people to vote for the ANC.

Vavi returned to his post after being suspended for eight months, during which he openly criticised the ruling party and accused its senior leaders of plotting to oust him.

Cosatu said the firebrand politician would join other national office bearers, as they intensified electioneering across the country.

The trade federation’s president Sidumo Dlamini said he would defend Vavi from those who threatened to dump him if he campaigned for the ruling party.

“We’ve condemned any insinuation that if he campaigns for the ANC he’ll be dumped. He can’t be dumped because he’s in Cosatu.”

He said the federation collectively decided to back the ANC and Vavi indicated his willingness to support this decision.

“We don’t believe he’s running away from platforms where he must be seen campaigning for the ANC.”

Dlamini confirmed Vavi will be attending major campaign events with other Cosatu and ANC leaders across the country.

Meanwhile, the ANC said last week that divisions within Cosatu caused great pain for the party and called on the federation to return to its founding principles.

Cosatu’s biggest affiliates, the National Union of Mineworkers and the National Union of Metalworkers South Africa, have been at loggerheads since Vavi was suspended as general secretary.

The ruling party’s deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa attended a special Cosatu Central Executive Committee meeting and secured a one month truce in a bid to prevent a split.

Govan Whittles