VAVI'S RAPE SAGA

A 26 year old woman has accused Zwelizima Vavi, the general secretary of Cosatu with rape. The fireband trade unionist has admitted to having a consensual sex with the woman on the 25th of January of 2013 in her office but he denies raping her. Vavi said in a statement to Cosatu that he went to her office and they started to kiss on the day of the alleged rape occurred (Kimberly, 2013). According to Vavi the accusations are not true and they had a relationship. (Macmillan English Dictionary, 2002: 470) describes ethics as set of principles that people use to decide what is right or wrong, the general principle or belief that affects the way people behave. However this is a general definition of ethics, when looking at ethics in a workplace especially concerning sexual relationships, other companies do not have policies about it. Although there are no much policies concerning sexual relationships, the Daily Mail Reporter (2013) there is a believe that there is nothing wrong with a consensual sex between employees who work in the same company, there is however, less approval when the relationship is between a manager and a junior colleague. Kramer (2000) also states that office romance between supervisors and subordinates who are in a direct reporting relationship or are otherwise on different hierarchical levels are particularly troublesome for the employees involved, their co-workers, and the employer. Supervisor-subordinate relationships often trigger negative reaction among employees, including perceptions of sexual favouritism and sexual harassment that damage morale and the company by the participants or third parties. Sexual harassment can be defined as the offensive or threatening behaviour of a person who regularly makes sexual comments or touches someone in a sexual way (Macmillan English Dictionary, 2002: 1301). In other words, it was wrong of Vavi to have a sexual relationship with his junior colleague. Whether rape or consensual sex, this act was wrong and a suspension was fairly rewarded. In conclusion, Cosatu general secretary had not handled his personal matters with ethics in the workplace. BIBLIOGRAPHY Daily Mail Reporter, 2013. Mail Online: The truth about sex at work. Available: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2331250/the-truth-about-sex-work// [16 August 2013] Kimberly, K & Kimberly, M. 2013. The Herald: Cosatu Boss Vavi raped me, claims woman. Available: http://www.peherald.com/news/article/17455. [16 August 2013] Kramer, G. M. 2000. Lexis Nexis. Available: http://intigation-essentials.lexisnexis.com . [16 August 2013] Macmillan English Dictionary. 2002. For advanced learners. Malaysia: A&C Black Publishers LTD