Irvin Jim, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) general secretary, and Western Cape regional secretary Vuyo Lufele remain at loggerheads over the lifting of Lufele’s suspension.
Lufele only had until Friday to grant the union consent to rescission of the arbitration award after the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) found his suspension to be null.
He came out guns blazing when responding to a letter, emphasizing that nothing was stopping him from reporting for work on Monday.
In a lengthy letter, Lufele left snippets that Jim was involved in the corruption and money-laundering scheme at Numsa Investment Company for purchases that the general secretary failed to declare.
Lufele was suspended in 2022 for voicing out alleged corruption.
He said he was not fighting the union and urged Jim to not use the union’s name to gain support from the collective of national office bearers. Disputing claims from the first letter, he said he was not running away from anything and believed the arbitration award was fair.
Lufele wrote in a letter: “We re-referred the matter and we are waiting for the new date where we would be laying [bare] corruption and money-laundering within Numsa Investment Company, not in Numsa as you alleged in paragraph three of your letter.
“I understand that your name appeared in Deloitte audit firm report for an amount of R40 430.53 spent by 3Sixty on your birthday celebration, an amount of R15 578.49 spent on your daughter to purchase her laptop and software which you never declared in line with the Numsa gift policy.
“I am not talking about a new vehicle bought by Numsa Financial Services for your daughter. Your direct personal benefits from the Numsa Investment Company are not benefits to Numsa. All individuals who have benefitted from the Numsa Investment Company will be exposed through forensic auditing.
Lufele said he has avoided the public eye to respect the legal processes but realised that the union was excited to share a confidential letter for the world to see, even before he could know there was such a letter in his e-mail inbox.
“You are alleging that my unfair suspension matter had been consolidated with my section 188A matter. This is a legal argument that you would have made before the commissioner instead of trying to intimidate me and put a condition for me to consent to your rescission application,” reads the letter.
“You can advance your legal argument if you follow the law not applying politics where not needed.
“If you were forming part of all these disciplinary hearings, CCMA proceedings and court proceedings that you are creating against a number of comrades, you would not be confused as you are.
“You have chosen to use comrade Kabelo Ramokhathali, the Sedibeng regional secretary, for reasons known by you.
“I will be waiting for you at CCMA or in any other court if you follow the law to the latter and succeed on your rescission application.”
He said he was committed to a solution that would unite the organisation and preferred to follow the law to its core.
Lufele told Sunday World that he was still committed to going to work on Monday, address the team and leave.
On Sunday, Jim wrote to all Numsa members, staff and shop steward committees in all plants saying Lufele remains suspended and that anyone who welcomed him back as the Western Cape regional secretary or take any instructions from him would risk the possibility of disciplinary measures.
“We are calling all our members, staff and all of those who are in leadership positions of the union at all levels of the union not to aid or abet Vuyo Lufele in his contemptuous actions,” said Jim.
“Members and staff may not in any way assist Vuyo Lufele in attempting to resume his duties in defiance of the union’s authority.”
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa.
