National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) will financially support expelled Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, who was shown the door by the federation on Monday.

The metalworkers union, which was also expelled from Cosatu, was already supplying Vavi with security.

Numsa treasurer Mphumzi Maqungo yesterday said only Numsa's national executive committee would take such a decision, but confirmed that Vavi was using one of Numsa's bodyguards.

Maqungo added that it was Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim's protector who was now looking after Vavi.

"He had to sacrifice his safety a year ago when he gave Vavi one of his bodyguards," he said.

Vavi's Cosatu cellphone number was discontinued yesterday, after the federation's leadership announced that he should return all the property and working tools in his possession.

Cosatu leaders have laid some ground rules for Vavi, who it accused of treating leaders as his own inferior subjects.

Cosatu deputy general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali said Vavi's conduct constituted gross misconduct.

"[He] has behaved in a manner which reduces the federation to his own entity where he can do as he wishes," he said.

Ntshalintshali added that no Cosatu's affiliates should invite Vavi to address their members.

The security of the federation communication will also be protected against interceptions and hacking, he said.

Vavi, who was yesterday berated for neglecting his duties, would be allowed access into Cosatu House only when he clears his office.

"We are saying to our structures you should not give him a platform to speak, neither should you go to open platforms to listen to him," said president Sdumo Dlamini.

Vavi can only appeal his expulsion at the Cosatu national congress in September.

From leader to castoff

ZWELINZIMA Vavi is a self-taught leader who got into the trade union work in 1998 while working as a mining clerk in the former Western Transvaal (now North West province). It was there that he became active as a trade unionist, after joining the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). He later became regional secretary of the union.

• In 1992 he moved to Cosatu where be became a national organiser. The following year, until 1999 he was Cosatu's deputy general secretary.
• In 1999 he succeeded Mbhazima Shilowa as general secretary of Cosatu, the position he held until he was expelled on Tuesday.
• September 17 2012: Vavi is re-elected unopposed. The leadership vows to focus on healing rifts that have emerged over the ANC leadership in Mangaung.
• August 14 2013: After a 10-hour meeting Cosatu's central executive committee (CEC) suspends Vavi for having an affair with a woman he appointed to work at Cosatu House.
• April 2014: Vavi's suspension is lifted after he wins a high court case to be reinstated.
• September 14 2013: Vavi causes a stir by referring to the junior employee he had sex with as Nopatazana, a Xhosa term meaning a woman will low morals. He apologises two days later, but insists on using the "unpleasant term" during a rally in his home township of Sada, outside Whittlesea, in Eastern Cape.
• November 2014: Vavi boycotts a press conference where expulsion of rebel metalworkers union Numsa is announced. In the same month he writes a letter to the national office bearers and affiliates berating a factional decision to expel Numsa.
• March 2 2015:Vavi boycotts a CEC meeting, citing lack of unity.
• March 5 2015: Cosatu CEC gives Vavi one last chance to explain himself before action is taken against officials implicated in a probe into the acquisition of Cosatu's headquarters. The CEC announces that a forensic report has implicated Vavi. There were allegations that Vavi's stepdaughter had been involved in one of the companies that worked on the head office transaction, but attempts by auditors to secure a meeting failed.
• March 28 2015: Vavi says he has an important announcement to make, sparking speculation that he will resign.
• March 29 2015: Vavi announces he will not resign, labels other leaders as corrupters and says he will go back to grassroots members and secure unity in Cosatu.
• March 30 2015: Vavi is expelled after snubbing another meeting in which he was expected to explain himself over the forensic report.

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