"They are rallying people around them; they want to instigate people and ultimately overthrow the government,” he said at the launch of the SA Communist Party’s annual Red October campaign in Lethabong, near Rustenburg.

Vavi portrayed himself as an anti-corruption activist to defocus people about his conduct as Cosatu general secretary.

“He is trying to clear his tracks. He wants people to forget about what he did in an office at Cosatu house…” Mahumapelo said in Setswana. He was referring to an affair Vavi had with a Cosatu staff member.

Vavi and Malema led an anti-corruption march to the Union Building in Pretoria on September 30.

Vavi was expelled from Cosatu in March this year for bringing the trade union federation into disrepute and divisive activity.

Malema, a former ANC Youth League president, was expelled from the ANC in April 2012 for sowing divisions within the ruling party. He went on to start his own political party, the EFF, in July 2013.

ANA