Taking COSATU Today Forward, 27 October 2025 #Cosatu@40 #Cosatu40thAnniversary

[Norman Mampane]

 

COSATU TODAY #Cosatu’s Just Transition Global South Exchange session gets underway at Boksburg... #Cosatu scheduled to hold its 40th Anniversary at Dobsonville, Soweto on December 6 #Cosatu@40 #Cosatu40thAnniversary #SACTU70 #ClassStruggle “Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism” #Back2Basics #JoinCOSATUNow #ClassConsciousness

Taking COSATU Today Forward

‘Whoever sides with the revolutionary people in deed as well as in word is a revolutionary in the full sense’-Maoo

 

Our side of the story

27 October 2025

“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”

Organize at every workplace and demand respect for labour rights Now!

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Contents                      

• Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!

• COSATU invites members of the media to attend the Just Transition Global South Exchange 2025
• SAMWU demands immediate salary payment and consequence management at Waterberg District Municipality

• COSATU to host lectures in the lead up to 40^th anniversary

• South Africa
• COSATU commends government's progress in addressing the grey listing findings
• COSATU KZN Calls for Urgent Answers into Tragic Lift Incident in Durban 
• International-Workers’ Solidarity!
• NEHAWU stands in solidarity with CUBA in their fight to lift the economic and financial blockade by the US

Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics  

COSATU invites members of the media to attend the Just Transition Global South Exchange 2025

Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 26 October 2025

 

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) invites members of the media to attend the Just Transition Global South Exchange (GSE), taking place 27 October to 29 October 2025.

 

The three-day event will bring together unions, civil society, and government representatives from the Global South to strengthen cooperation and advance a just and equitable transition to a low carbon economy. Building on the success of the 2024 GSE, this year’s exchange is set to deepen solidarity and coordination in the lead up to COP30 in Brazil in November. Discussions will centre around workers’ rights, energy democracy, climate finance, job creation and ensuring the Just Transition remains worker-led and socially inclusive.

 

Venue: Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre, Terminal B

Time: 9am - registration starts at 7.30am; access is by accreditation only.

 

Issued by COSATU

Zanele Sabela (National Spokesperson)

Mobile:  079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639

Email: zan...@cosatu.org.za

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SAMWU demands immediate salary payment and consequence management at Waterberg District Municipality

Dumisane Magagula, SAMWU General Secretary, 24 October 2025

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) notes with extreme agitation the inexcusable failure by the Waterberg District Municipality in Limpopo province to pay its workers their contractual salaries for the month of October which were due today, October 24, 2025. 

This breach of contract is not just an administrative oversight, but also an act of economic negligence against the very employees tasked with delivering essential services to the residents of the district.

The municipal management's response, a brief, 26-word memo, is noted for its striking lack of empathy and its failure to provide a guaranteed date for payment. This inadequate communication is indicative of an employer that simply does not care for the financial well-being of its workforce. For many municipal workers who live hand-to-mouth, this delay is devastating. Their monthly budgets are shattered, resulting in bounced debit orders, incurring avoidable bank charges, and threatening their and their families' financial stability.

It is an act of profound disrespect that workers are currently on duty, expected to maintain service delivery to the community, while their own contractual salaries has been withheld. This crisis highlights a fundamental flaw in the municipality's financial management and a deep disregard for fair labour practice. 

SAMWU condemns the lack of seriousness and transparency with which the management has handled this crisis, which borders on a deliberate violation of workers' basic rights.

As SAMWU, we issue the following non-negotiable demands to the Waterberg District Municipality. First, we demand the immediate and full payment of all outstanding October salaries to every municipal worker without any further delay. Second, we demand that the municipality must launch a thorough, independent investigation into the cause of this payment failure.

This investigation must conclude with swift and decisive consequence management for all those found responsible for this lapse, to ensure that such an operational and contractual failure is never repeated. Should the Municipality fail to comply with these demands instantly, SAMWU will be compelled to explore all available avenues, including legal action and industrial mobilisation, to protect the rights of its members.

Issued by SAMWU Secretariat

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COSATU to host lectures in the lead up to 40^th anniversary

Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 25 September 2025

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is set the host a series of lectures in the lead up to its 40^th anniversary celebration at Dobsonville Stadium on 6 December.

 

The culmination of four years of unity talks, COSATU came into being on 1 December 1985, and brought together 33 competing unions and federations opposed to apartheid and whose common goal was to bring about a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society.

 

The Federation has been at the forefront of advancing, defending and protecting the interests and rights of workers since, and has led in the formation of the country’s progressive labour laws including workers’ rights to form trade unions, collective bargaining and to strike, minimum conditions of service, National Minimum Wage, etc.

 

From its vehement resistance of apartheid to the ushering in of the democratic dispensation and improving the economic and social wellbeing of the working class 31 years post democracy, COSATU has stood the test of time.

 

In the lead up to its 40^th anniversary in December, the Federation will host a variety of activities starting with a series of lectures by its National Office Bearers.

 

The lectures will tackle diverse subjects from COSATU’s pivotal role in gender struggles to the strike that broke the back of industry-wide exploitative labour practices as far back as 1959.  

 

Province: Northern Cape
Date: 30 October   

Topic: COSATU and the Liberation Movement

Main Speaker: Solly Phetoe, COSATU General Secretary

Province: North-West
Date: 19 November

Topic: Strengthening Industrial Unions to build a militant COSATU        

Main Speaker: Duncan Luvuno, COSATU 2nd Deputy President

Province: Eastern Cape
Date: 20 November

Topic: COSATU and the Reconfiguration of the Alliance      

Main Speaker: Mike Shingange, COSATU 1st Deputy President

Province: Gauteng
Date: 21 November

Topic: COSATU and the Mass Democratic Movement 

Main Speaker: Zingiswa Losi, COSATU President 

 

Issued by COSATU

South Africa

COSATU commends government's progress in addressing the grey listing findings

 

Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 24 October 2025

 

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) commends the African National Congress led government’s progress in addressing the United Nations’ Financial Action Task Force (FATF)’s grey listing findings with all 22 findings now having been addressed and South Africa’s exit from grey listing secured. 

 

The tireless efforts by Treasury, the Financial Intelligence Centre, the Reserve Bank and other government departments as well as Parliament to action the FATF and the Zondo Commission into State Capture and Corruption’s findings are beginning to bear fruit.

 

Whilst welcoming this important achievement, it is critical to not only resolve FATF’s findings in letter, but in action.  This requires ensuring relevant state institutions, in particular the South African Revenue Service, Financial Intelligence Centre, Reserve Bank, National Prosecuting Authority, Special Investigations Unit, Judiciary and South African Police Service; have the resources, including skilled personnel, to tackle corruption, tax evasion, money laundering and terrorism financing.  Recent court cases in this regard provide positive hope of government’s commitment to tackle such crimes.

 

COSATU will continue to support government’s efforts in this regard, including engaging the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition to expedite the promulgation of the Companies Amendment Acts’ provisions providing for the full disclosure of company ownership.

 

This milestone is a positive vote of confidence in South Africa by the international community. South Africa’s exit from grey listing will boost collective efforts to attract the investment needed to stimulate badly needed economic growth, unlock key sectors and create jobs, as many pension and investment funds are prohibited by their rules from investing in grey listed countries.

 

Issued by COSATU

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COSATU KZN Calls for Urgent Answers into Tragic Lift Incident in Durban 

Edwin Mkhize, COSATU KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Secretary, 26 October 2025

 

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in KwaZulu-Natal notes with deep sadness and serious concern the tragic incident that occurred in one of theHomii residential building on Dr. Pixely KaSeme Street in Durban, where two children from one family fell into a lift shaft reportedly due to a malfunctioning elevator. We are deeply saddened that the young boy tragically lost his life, while his sister remains in a critical condition. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved Dlamini family during this time of unbearable pain and grief.

 

This heartbreaking incident highlights a growing and unacceptable trend in many buildings across our province where ageing infrastructure, neglected maintenance, and non-functional lifts have become ordinary. Many of these buildings serve as workplaces for employees, residences for students, shops, and homes for working class families who already face dire socio-economic challenges.

 

We are worried about the reported non-cooperation, acts of intimidation and remorseless by the landlord. We view this conduct as highly inappropriate and arrogant.

 

The persistent malfunctioning of lifts and general neglect of safety standards pose a grave occupational and public health risk. COSATU views this as a serious health and safety compliance matter that demands urgent and decisive intervention. We will work with the family, Department of Employment and Labour, together with relevant law enforcement and municipal authorities, to demand answers and accountability from those who are responsible.

 

We further call on employers, landlords, and property owners to stop prioritising profit over the lives and safety of our people. Compliance with occupational health and safety regulations and public safety is not optional, it is a moral and legal obligation.

 

As COSATU KZN we demand urgent answers and accountability for this preventable tragedy. The lives of the working class must never be treated as expendable.

 

Issued by the COSATU KZN Secretary

International-Solidarity   

NEHAWU stands in solidarity with CUBA in their fight to lift the economic and financial blockade by the US

Zola Saphetha, NEHAWU General Secretary, October 24, 2025

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] stands in solidarity with the people of Cuba in their fight to lift the criminal economic and financial blockade against Cuba by the United States of America.

On the 28^th – 29^th of October 2025, the United Nations General Assembly will consider and vote for the resolution entitled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba".

As NEHAWU, we call on the international community to support and stand in solidarity with Cuban people in their fight to end the 67 years economic blockade against Cuba by the United States of America.  

The criminal American blockade continues to impose hardships on the Cuban people and has affected the functioning of the Cuban economy, by severely reducing income from exports of goods and services, access to fuel and medicines and medical supplies. The blockade continues to impose many burdens on the people of Cuba.

The blockade against Cuba is the most comprehensive system of unilateral economic sanctions that has ever been applied against any country. It continues to be an obstacle in the development of Cuba and the human damage it causes is incalculable. It constitutes a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of human rights.

Lastly, NEHAWU calls on the United Nations General Assembly and all Member States to denounce the criminal economic and financial blockade against Cuba. We reiterate our call on the United States of America to lift the criminal economic and financial blockade against Cuba.

END

Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat.

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Norman Mampane (Shopsteward Editor)

Congress of South African Trade Unions

110 Jorissen Cnr Simmonds Street, Braamfontein, 2017

P.O.Box 1019, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa

Tel: +27 11 339-4911 Direct line: 010 219-1348

 

 

 

 

 

 

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