Taking COSATU Today Forward, 5 November 2025 #Cosatu@40 #Cosatu40thAnniversary

[Norman Mampane]

 

COSATU TODAY #HappyBirthdayPOPCRU, says #Cosatu #Cosatu40thAnniversary countdown begins… #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

5 November 2025

“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”

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

Defend Jobs Now!

Join COSATU NOW!

 

Contents                      

• Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!

• Media Alert: COSATU will present its submission on the Special Appropriation Bill to Parliament Wednesday 05 November 2025
• KwaZulu-Natal statement on the demise of Cde Fana Derrick Mthembu, the  Chairperson of Phiwo Kamjula Gwamanda Region

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

• South Africa
• COSATU welcomes 18% increase in public infrastructure expenditure
• International-Workers’ Solidarity!
• WFTU Solidarity Message with ENEDEP Dockworkers Union

Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics  

Media Alert: COSATU will present its submission on the Special Appropriation Bill to Parliament Wednesday 05 November 2025

Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 04 November 2025

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) will present its submission on the Special Appropriation Bill (Department of Health) to Parliament’s Select Committee: Appropriations from 0900 on Wednesday 05 November 2025 (virtual platform).

Issued by COSATU

Matthew Parks (COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator)

Mobile: 082 785 0687

Email: mat...@cosatu.org.za 

-------------------------

 

KwaZulu-Natal statement on the demise of Cde Fana Derrick Mthembu, the  Chairperson of Phiwo Kamjula Gwamanda Region

Nomarashiya Caluza, SADTU KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Secretary, 4 November 2025

With heavy hearts, the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) in KwaZulu-Natal formally announces to all members that Comrade Fana Mthembu is no longer with us. Comrade Fana passed away in hospital on Sunday, 2 November 2025. His passing came as a shock to all of us, as it was hoped that he would recover.

At the time of his demise, Comrade Fana was the principal of Esibanini Primary School in Umzinyathi District. He also taught and got promoted to a Departmental Head post in 1998 at Sizanani High School and Zicole High School where he worked as a Deputy Principal. He began his teaching career in 1993. Walking on two legs, comrade Fana remained a committed teacher and school manager whilst serving his Union – SADTU. All these schools are in Nquthu where Comrade Fana spent almost all his teaching years, and it was this area that shaped his activism.

Comrade Fana led the Nqutu Branch, now Lucas Mbatha branch with distinction. Reflecting on his contribution to the growth of the Union during the most difficult times in the history of our Union, justifies the emotions that engulfs us as we try to comprehend the news of his passing. He served as the Branch Chairperson from 2011 – 2018.

In the same year (2018) Comrade Fana was elected as the Regional Deputy Chairperson, a position he held until 2022 when he ascended to the position of Regional Chairperson of Phiwo kaMjula Gwamanda Region. Through this role, he became a member of the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), making him part of the provincial leadership of SADTU in KwaZulu Natal.

His extensive experience enabled him to guide and develop other leaders and members he served. He was a very supportive and instrumental in the developing new leadership. Comrade Fana believed in unity of the organisation and its structures. He remained loyal and dedicated to SADTU, his union of choice which he served with distinction. Because of his strong belief in unity, he always worked tirelessly to facilitate unity among members and structures of the Union.

As members of SADTU in the province of KwaZulu Natal and in the Phiwo kaMjula Region in particular, we lower our banner in remembrance of our leader. We are mindful of the reality that ours now is to try to rise, reflect on the positive lessons we learned from Comrade Fana, emulate them and continue to build the strongest Union ever as we believe this is what he would have wanted us to do.

A true leader who always led from the front, Comrade Fana consistently availed himself for the programmes of the organisation. He understood the responsibility we have in changing the lives of our people. As an activist, Comrade Fana shared his wealth of knowledge and experience with to COSATU and the ANC. For many years, Comrade Fana also served as the Chairperson of COSATU Nquthu Local. He remained a loyal member of the movement till his last breath.

We send our sincerest condolences to the family, the school, learners, colleagues, and the community he so faithfully served.

A memorial service will take place on Wednesday, 5 November 2025 at the Richview Civic Hall in Newcastle (on the road to Normadien).

May his revolutionary soul rest in eternal peace.

ISSUED BY KZN SADTU SECRETARIAT

____________________

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 welcomes 18% increase in public infrastructure expenditure

Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 04 November 2025

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) welcomes the 18% or R42 billion increase in public infrastructure expenditure over the past year reaching a peak of R276 billion.  This is a positive turnaround from the downturn in infrastructure spending since COVID-19 in 2021.  We hope that it is a signal of a shift from the austerity budget cuts that have stifled economic growth.

Notable increases include Eskom boosting infrastructure allocations by R10.2 billion taking its total spending to R49.5 billion, Prasa raising expenditure by R5.9 billion taking its investments on restoring passenger rail lines to nearly R21.8 billion, and SANRAL increasing road spending by R3.9 billion to a total of R13.3 billion.

Whilst welcoming this hopeful sign that the state’s progressive infrastructure programme is gaining traction, much more must be done not only to achieve the R1 trillion infrastructure expenditure target over the next three years, but equally to ensure that the space for looting, wastage, theft and vandalism is drastically slashed.

Equally important is for government with the active involvement of law enforcement, to tackle construction mafia syndicates and other extortionists holding various construction sites to ransom, including threatening the lives of officials, construction workers and security guards. 

The Federation welcomes plans by government to blacklist contractors who fail to honour their contractual obligations timeously.  Similar discipline needs to be enforced with regards to price gouging and corruption that have become all too synonymous with public procurement.

Whilst welcoming the African National Congress led government’s R1 trillion infrastructure investment programme, it is not sufficient to shift the economy from its anemic 1% annual growth rate to the 3% needed to tackle our dangerously high unemployment level of 42.9%. 

A mass economic and social infrastructure financing package is needed that mobilises far greater resources from the state developmental finance institutions. 

Equally the private sector must be compelled to end its investment strike and contribute towards such infrastructure projects needed to stimulate inclusive economic growth and create decent jobs.

The state must pay much more attention to ensuring these infrastructure investments support local jobs, businesses and materials.  This is not only a legal requirement but a moral obligation and an economic necessity.

We remain deeply concerned about the capacity of local government to meet its infrastructure commitments given the levels of anarchy and pilferage that have become the hallmark of far too many municipalities.  Much greater support and adult supervision must be provided by National Treasury’s Chief Procurement Office, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, as well as the Development Bank and Industrial Corporation to capacitate municipalities and ensure that infrastructure grants are not only spent but spent correctly and timeously.

Treasury needs to finalise the Public Procurement Act’s Regulations and promulgation to ensure that such infrastructure expenditure is above board, monies are accounted for and space for mischief is closed.

Issued by COSATU

International-Solidarity   

WFTU Solidarity Message with ENEDEP Dockworkers Union

BY CENTRAL WFTU, 3 NOVEMBER 2025

The World Federation of Trade Unions strongly condemns the new unacceptable prosecution against militant trade unionists and class-oriented trade unions that stand in solidarity with the heroic Palestinian people in practice.

The prosecution of the president of the ENEDEP Dockworkers Union and the Piraeus Labour Center, for the mobilization that blocked a container loaded with bullets bound for Israel, must stop immediately and unconditionally.

Those who should be brought to justice are the war criminals of the Israeli state and not the trade unionists fighting against the massacre of the Palestinians. The prosecution of trade unionists and the violation of trade union rights is not Justice.

Justice will be the prompt end to the genocide, the end of the Israeli barbaric occupation, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The WFTU reiterates its call for boycott actions against Israel and tangible support with the struggling Palestinian People and expresses its undivided solidarity with its affiliates and cadres who keep the flag of internationalist solidarity flying.

The International class-oriented trade union movement joins its voice with PAME, the militant trade unions, and the workers in Greece, demanding:

·        The immediate termination of all prosecutions against the president of ENEDEP and the Piraeus Labour Center.

·        That the case be dropped unconditionally and permanently.

·        The abolition of the reactionary legal framework that criminalizes trade union action and internationalist solidarity.

 

Hands off the president of the ENEDEP Dockworkers Union!

Hands off the Trade Union Rights

Free Palestine

______________________________

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

 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this e-mail by mistake and delete this e-mail from your system. If you are not the intended recipient you are notified that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited.