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ID President Patricia de Lille has defended Cosatu boss Zwelinzima Vavi's ‘right to freedom of speech, which is the right of every South African.

‘The ANC's attempt to silence and discipline him is especially unjust because he is one of the very, very few leaders in the Alliance that has discarded this habit of liberation parties of silencing dissent. This habit of attacking the messenger, rather than listening to the message, is a habit that the ANC has also often tried to use against me,' Ms De Lille says.

De Lille says she hopes Vavi will continue to speak out against corruption in the ANC Government, ‘without being intimidated by death threats intended to strike fear into those of us that stand for justice.

‘Vavi is one of the lone voices left in the Alliance that is brave enough to speak out against corruption and greed. He is right to call for action. In fact, he is challenging Government to walk the talk, because under the Zuma Government they have been talking and talking and debating and discussing and nothing is being done,' says De Lille.