Kunene hits back at Vavi after SAFTU files complaint over his comments about illegal miners
Vavi has filed a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission, accusing Kunene of inciting violence against illegal miners and foreign nationals.
FILE: Johannesburg Transport MMC Kenny Kunene. Picture: Jacques Nelles/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi says Patriotic Alliance deputy leader Kenny Kunene should not be allowed to continue serving as a public representative.
Vavi has filed a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), accusing Kunene of inciting violence against illegal miners and foreign nationals.
This follows a series of posts Kunene made on X, in which he said illegal miners should be left to die underground like rats.
Vavi argues Kunene does not conduct himself in a manner befitting a public representative.
"Surely this is somebody who belongs where he was recruited from, in prison. Not in the leadership of such an important municipality."
Kunene has hit back at Vavi.
"I don't care. He can go to that Human Rights Commission and lay a complaint. He has failed the workers of this country dismally when he was a secretary of Cosatu. He continues to fail the workers of this country."
- Kunene not fazed by complaints -
Kunene said he is not intimidated by formal complaints filed against him over alleged xenophobic tweets.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and SAFTU have submitted a request to the SAHRC, asking for an investigation into Kunene for possible constitutional violations.
In 2022, the Johannesburg High Court found Kunene guilty of hate speech for calling Julius Malema a "cockroach" and a "little frog."
SAFTU's Vavi said Kunene's remarks reflect a lack of restraint in his speech and that he should be held accountable for his recent comments about illegal miners.
"We are not a banana republic where anybody can say anything they wish based on the prejudices they have against any group – even if that group is here illegally."
Kunene, however, says he's not threatened at all.
"I will not back down from echoing the manifesto of the Patriotic Alliance that we’ll bring the death penalty."