Taking COSATU Today Forward, 12 March 2026
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY COSATU Call Center Contacts: 010 002 2590 #SAMATU marches in Pretoria demanding employed on unemployed healthcare professionals… #EqualPay #GenderEquality #Cosatu40 #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
12 March 2026
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- SADTU deeply disturbed by a viral video of teacher humiliating a learner
- Media Accreditation: SAMWU 13th National Congress
- South Africa
- COSATU applauds suspension of DG, DDG and CFO in the Department of Health
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- WFTU Announcement and Call for Participation in the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference
SADTU deeply disturbed by a viral video of teacher humiliating a learner
Nomusa Cembi, SADTU Media Officer, 11 March 2026
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) is deeply disturbed by a viral video recorded by a teacher showing learners in a classroom eating pies and drinking juice while one learner is sitting covering his face because he did not contribute.
In the video, the teacher can be heard saying she cannot help it if the mother of the child did not contribute. As a Union that defends the rights and dignity of education workers while also upholding the highest professional standards, we strongly condemn such conduct.
The video has angered members of the community with close to 800 people marching to the school,Thembalethu Primary in George, Western Cape this morning demanding the teacher’s expulsion.
The conduct displayed in the video negates the very values that educators are expected to embody. An educator is entrusted with the responsibility to care, protect and nurture every learner equally. The apparent humiliation of a learner is completely unacceptable and does not represent the values of the teaching profession.
The conduct is inconsistent with the South African Council for Educators (SACE) Code of Professional Ethics, which requires educators, in relation to learners, to respect their dignity, beliefs and constitutional rights of learners and in particular children. Further, teachers are expected to uphold the rights of learners to privacy and confidentiality; avoid any humiliation, and refrain from any form of abuse - physical and psychologically.
Ironically, the regional office of SADTU in George recently hosted SACE to conduct workshops on professional teacher conduct. These workshops were open to all educators regardless of union affiliation and were aimed at strengthening professionalism and ethical conduct within the sector.
SADTU calls for calm within the community and urges that the matter be handled through proper legal and administrative processes. The Union will ensure that Department of Education follows due process in investigating the incident and in taking the necessary steps in line with applicable labour and professional regulations.
While we defend the rights of educators, we equality believe that professionalism, care, and respect for the dignity of learners must always guide the conduct of educators.
ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat
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Media
Accreditation: SAMWU 13th National Congress
Papikie Mohale, SAMWU National Media Officer, 09 March 2026
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) will convene its 13th National Congress from 17 to 19 March 2026 at Church Unlimited, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.
Held under the theme “Towards Four Decades and Beyond in Defence of Workers’ Interests,”
the Congress marks an important milestone as the Union reflects on nearly forty years of militant struggle, organisational consolidation, and its unwavering defence of municipal and water sector workers.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the open sessions of Congress scheduled for 17 and 19 March 2026. Media houses wishing to cover the Congress are requested to apply for accreditation no later than 13 March 2026.
The Congress is expected to receive messages of support and addresses from the following leaders:
· COSATU General Secretary, Cde Solly Phetoe
· SACP General Secretary, Cde Solly Mapaila
· ANC Secretary-General, Cde Fikile Mbalula
· Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, H.E. Dickson Masemola
· SALGA Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Sithole Mbanga
· Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, H.E. Jomo Sibiya
These addresses will engage the political, economic, and social challenges confronting workers and outline the programme required to defend and advance working-class interests. The 13th National Congress will deliberate on key organisational, political, and
collective bargaining matters, including strategies to strengthen the Union and respond decisively to the deepening crisis in local government.
Members of the media are encouraged to confirm their attendance with the National Media Officer, Cde Papikie Mohale, via email at
pap...@samwu.org.za
in order to secure accreditation by 13 March 2026.
Please note that only accredited members of the media will be granted access to the Congress venue.
Issued by SAMWU Secretariat
Papikie Mohale
National Media Officer
076 795 8670
South Africa #ClassSolidarity
COSATU applauds suspension of DG, DDG and CFO in the Department of Health
Zanele Sabela, COSATU Spokesperson, 11 March 2026
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) commends Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, for placing the Director General, Sandile Buthelezi, Deputy Director General, Malixole Mahlathi, and the Chief Financial Officer, Phineas Mamogale, on precautionary suspension following their arrest a little more than a week ago.
The Department of Health senior officials were arrested on 2 March on fraud and theft charges. They appeared before the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court accused of stealing more than R1 million from the Global Fund monies intended for the fight against HIV/Aids, TB, and Malaria.
They were released on R10 000 bail each.
Buthelezi, Mahlathi and Mamogale will remain on suspension until their case is finalised or their contracts expire, whichever comes first. COSATU applauds Minister Motsoaledi for taking a hard line, it is a refreshing and welcome move. Too often officials accused of corruption are allowed to carry on business as usual. We commend the Minister for drawing a line – as if to say enough is enough.
The suspensions convey a correct and much needed message to the Global Fund and other donor organisations, that theft of funds meant to aid South Africa in the fight against HIV/Aids, TB, and Malaria will not be tolerated.
South Africa has the largest number of people living with HIV and the funds from the Global Fund are meant to help bring us closer to ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030.
COSATU is pleased with the Minister’s decision to appoint Professor Nicholas Crisp, Deputy Director General for the National Health Insurance as interim Director General for three months.
Once again, the Federation calls on the National Prosecuting Authority to leave no stone unturned to ensure those guilty of siphoning off funds meant for HIV/Aids, TB and Malaria patients are prosecuted, their assets attached and made to serve time in prison.
Issued by COSATU
International-Solidarity
by WFTU HQ, 11 Mar 2026
The 114th Session of the ILC will be held from 1 to 12 June 2026 at the Palais des Nations and the ILO headquarters in Geneva.
The agenda of this year’s ILC is the following:
1. Reports of the Chairperson of the Governing Body and of the Director-General
II. Information on the programme and budget and other questions
III. Information and reports on the application of Conventions and Recommendations
2. Recurrent discussion on social dialogue and tripartism
3. Decent work in the platform economy (standard-setting, second discussion)
4.
Advancing the transformative agenda for gender equality at work
(general discussion)
VII. Withdrawal of the Labour Standards (Non-Metropolitan Territories) Convention, 1947 (No. 83)
The WFTU will actively participate in the work and discussions of the ILC through the speech of the WFTU General Secretary in the plenary, the interventions of its cadres in the plenary and thematic discussions, as well as through its side events and initiatives.
More details on the WFTU’s side events and interventions will be published in due time.
All WFTU affiliates that need to participate in the 114th ILC through the WFTU list should send the full names of the delegates, along with their positions and their unique personal email addresses, to be registered by April 10th, 2026, to commun...@wftucentral.org.
We remain at your disposal for any further clarifications.
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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