Taking COSATU Today Forward, 28 January 2026 #Back2SchoolCampaign #Right2LearnCampaign
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY #Back2SchoolCampaign #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
28 January 2026
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- SAMWU calls for administration of Impendle Local Municipality
- South Africa
- Department of Employment and Labour condemns Tshwane Municipality combative behaviour that compromise service delivery
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Quebec: ITUC stands in solidarity with workers’ organisations amid an unprecedented anti-union offensive
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
SAMWU calls for administration of Impendle Local Municipality
Nokubonga Dinga, SAMWU KZN Provincial Secretary, 28 January 2026
South African Municipal Workers’ Union in KwaZulu-Natal is calling the MEC for Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Mr Thulasizwe Buthelezi to revoke Section 139(1)(a)(b)(c) to put the Impendle Local Municipality under administration.
The municipality is yet to pay workers January salaries. This is a direct violation of Conditions of Services. This inconsiderate and inhumane trait by the municipality started in April 2025. Workers’ contracts stipulates that they shall be paid on the 24th of every month. In the event of the 24th of every month falling into weekend, workers shall be paid on Friday prior to the 24th of the month.
The municipal leadership have taken it upon themselves to alter payments date, citing financial constraints. They have been providing workers with all sorts of excuses, that does not address the problem of late payments.
In this troubled municipality, late payments of salaries are not the only issue of great concern. They are also not making third-party payments on behalf of workers. This means that they are not paying SARS, Medical Aid schemes, Pension Funds, UIF, and personal policies such as funeral covers and investments.
This has badly affected credit profile of workers, collapsed workers policies, suspension of medical aids, workers owing SARS, and severe debt at personal level. These acts of late salary payments and non-payment of third parties are detrimental to the well-being of workers.
It is against this background that SAMWU is calling for an immediate resignation of the Municipal Manager, and for the Municipality to be put under administration.
We have escalated the matter through proper bargaining channels to ensure that we seek reimbursement of workers' compensation for all the losses incurred as a result of late salary payments and non-payment of third parties.
As SAMWU we are also gearing up for industrial action in the municipality in the event COGTA fails to act.
Issued by SAMWU KZN
Department of Employment and Labour condemns Tshwane Municipality combative behaviour that compromise service delivery
27 January 2026
The Department of Employment and Labour is aggrieved by the over-the-board behaviour displayed by the City of Tshwane on Friday (23 January 2026) when it decided to take an aggressive approach and cut off electricity at the head office of the department in Pretoria.
On Friday, an “army" of aggressive Tshwane Electricity Division workers descended at Laboria House, department's head office located in the central business district (CBD) causing commotion and cut-off/switched off electricity alleging that the department owed the City R11 million.
To rub salt in the wound, in a social media post on Friday, Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya posted a message in which she boldly pronounced that the City had disconnected electricity at the department's head office in Pretoria, which she falsely said owed R11 million to the City.
Following an intervention by the department, it has since been found that the department was not in arrears.
“Despite our protests the department was not heard".
The R11 million owed does not belong to the department. A statement in possession of the department and dated 20/01/2026 shows that the department owes municipality a payable amount of R445,384.75.
The Department is aggrieved of the harm caused by the City of Tshwane. This overzealous conduct has impacted negatively on the reputational capital of the organisation, that 'the Department is not diligent and astute in paying for services.
The behaviour has also impacted on service provision as the Department had to abruptly ask staff to work from home.
The excessive behaviour compromised security and assets in the property in the absence of electricity. The Department requires an apology on this inconvenience and reckless action.
In realising and accepting their error, yesterday 26 January 2026 at 18h24, the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality reconnected the electricity to the building.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Teboho Thejane
Departmental Spokesperson
082 697 0694/ teboho....@labour.gov.za
-ENDS-
Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour
International-Solidarity
Quebec: ITUC stands in solidarity with workers’ organisations amid an unprecedented anti-union offensive
26 January 2026
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) expresses its full and complete support for the workers’ organisations in Quebec confronted with serious attacks on union rights and democracy.
Quebec’s labour movement is the target of repeated attempts by the Quebec government to use its legislative powers to weaken trade union autonomy, restrict the right to strike and reduce the checks and balances essential to any democratic society.
For the ITUC, these measures constitute an authoritarian shift incompatible with Canada’s international commitments.
“What is unfolding in Quebec today is not a mere technical reform: it is a direct attack on trade union rights and democracy.”ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle
"All over the world, we are seeing governments trying to muzzle unions so as to weaken workers’ ability to defend themselves. The ITUC is standing firmly alongside the unions – the CSD, CSN, CSQ and FTQ – to defend their fundamental rights.
"The ITUC calls on the government of Quebec to reverse these anti-union measures and show full respect for labour rights, freedom of association and social democracy. It reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with the workers of Quebec and the organisations representing them."
The trade unions in Quebec firmly denounce:
The interference in their internal democratic workings.
The restrictions placed on the exercise of the right to strike, which is key to the balance of power in any collective bargaining.
These actions contravene the core conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which Canada has committed to respect.
"For the ITUC, what we are seeing in Quebec is part of a worrying global trend: under the guise of governance, security or economic efficiency, governments are seeking to weaken trade unionism, criminalise social mobilisation and restrict collective rights. Such attacks are directly aimed at undermining the ability of workers to fully engage in democratic life.
"To defend trade unions is to defend democracy itself.
"The ITUC will continue to mobilise, including at international level, to remind governments of their obligations, and in support of the unions resisting these attacks. International solidarity is more essential than ever," adds Luc Triangle.
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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