Cosatu sacks Madisha over missing cash scandal

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s trade union movement has ousted its leader in a financial scandal, stripping President Thabo Mbeki of his main ally in organised labour.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions said Wednesday that its executive committee had agreed unanimously to fire Willy Madisha as president because of his involvement in a scandal over a missing N$500000 cash donation to the union’s ally, the Communist Party. Madisha is regarded as a moderate who supported Mbeki in his unsuccessful bid to retain the presidency of the African National Congress in December.The union’s general-secretary is Zwelinzima Vavi, who is closely linked to new African National Congress president Jacob Zuma and wants the government to introduce more radical pro-poor policies.The union will name a new president in May, it said.The scandal erupted last year after a businessmen claimed that he had given money packed in black plastic bags to Madisha to hand over to the Communist Party in 2002.The head of the Communist Party denied receiving the money, but Madisha insisted that he did.A commission of inquiry set up by the union found that Madisha had damaged its reputation and its relations with its allies.It did not investigate what happened to the money.Nampa-APMadisha is regarded as a moderate who supported Mbeki in his unsuccessful bid to retain the presidency of the African National Congress in December.The union’s general-secretary is Zwelinzima Vavi, who is closely linked to new African National Congress president Jacob Zuma and wants the government to introduce more radical pro-poor policies.The union will name a new president in May, it said.The scandal erupted last year after a businessmen claimed that he had given money packed in black plastic bags to Madisha to hand over to the Communist Party in 2002.The head of the Communist Party denied receiving the money, but Madisha insisted that he did.A commission of inquiry set up by the union found that Madisha had damaged its reputation and its relations with its allies.It did not investigate what happened to the money.Nampa-AP