Vavi: The entire cabinet must go

Speaking at a press conference to share details on the launch of a new trade union federation, Vavi condemned the uncertainty around the payment of social grants on April 1. 

"We deplore the scandalous fiasco around the possible non-payments by (social security agency) Sassa of social grants to 17million of the poorest South Africans on 1 April," said Vavi.

Vavi also called for the immediate resignation of President Jacob Zuma and Social Development minister Bathabile Dlamini.

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"We demand that President Zuma and Minister Dlamini and the entire cabinet resign following the outrageous  saga and their defiance of the Constitutional Court ruling, which condemned government's contract with Net1," added Vavi.

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The federation also weighed in on the agreement to establish a national minimum wage. 

"We have emphatically rejected government's proposed R20 / hour. Cosatu, government and bosses say 'yes' to slave wages but we say 'no'. We say 'yes' to a decent living wage and an end to poverty and inequalities," said Vavi. 

Vavi also announced dates for the new federation's founding congress. It has been shifted to the 21-23 of April at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg. 

21 Unions will form part of the federation's founding congress. Vavi said it will be attended by 1800 delegates representing close to 700 000 union members.