Taking COSATU Today Forward, 13 January 2026 #Back2SchoolCampaign #Right2LearnCampaign
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY #COSATU launching #Back2School and #Right2Learn Campaigns across all provinces #Congratulations to #Matriculants! #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
13 January 2026
“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!
- NEHAWU congratulates the Class of 2025
- South Africa
- Government congratulates the matric class of 2025
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Education International condemns U.S. withdrawal from international organisations, conventions, and treaties
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
NEHAWU congratulates the Class of 2025
Zola Saphetha, NEHAWU General Secretary, January 12, 2026
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] welcomes the 2025 National Senior Certificate [Matric] results as announced by the Department of Basic Education.
We congratulate all grade 12 learners who wrote and successfully passed the 2025 matric examinations and accordingly obtained their National Senior Certificate through their hard work, resilience and determination.
Furthermore, we want to encourage learners who were not successful to register for the Second Chance Programme, which provides support to learners who have not been able to meet the requirements of the National Senior Certificate or the extended Senior Certificate.
The union acknowledges all educators, administrators and support staff for their work and tireless contribution towards these results, despite the numerous challenges confronting the education system.
As NEHAWU, we welcome the fact that overall national pass rate has seen a steady improvement from to 87.3% to 88%. We also welcome the consistent improvement by rural provinces like the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West. Indeed, the government must continue paying particular attention to those provinces to improve the quality of rural schools as a matter of urgency and ensure that they are on par with their urban counterparts.
We call on government and all stakeholders to ensure that all deserving students are accommodated in higher learning institutions.
We call on universities and other institutions of higher learning to diligently prepare for the registration process, and refrain from implementing their preposterous admissions criteria and also re-assess their inflexible financial demands because they systematically exclude learners from the poor and working-class background.
Lastly, we call on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme [NSFAS] to provide financial support to poor students in order to help them access higher education.
END
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat.
Government congratulates the matric class of 2025
12 Jan 2026
Government congratulates the Class of 2025 on achieving an exceptional National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass rate of 88 %, marking the highest pass rate in the country. Notably, KwaZulu-Natal topped the rankings with a pass rate of 90.6%, with all other provinces performing at over 80%. For the first time, all 75 school districts have achieved a pass rate of 80% and above. Over 900 000 learners wrote the 2025 NSC examination, making it the largest class to write the examination in South Africa’s history.
This achievement reflects positive growth in learner performance and is a clear indication of the hard work, resilience and commitment demonstrated by learners throughout their schooling journey.This success is the result of a collective effort involving learners, educators, school leadership, parents, caregivers and education stakeholders across the system.
Government is particularly encouraged by strong performance in key subjects and the growing number of learners qualifying for Bachelor, Diploma and Higher Certificate passes. These results provide a strong foundation for increased participation in post-school education and training, and for the development of critical skills required by the economy.
While we celebrate this achievement, government remains mindful of learners who did not achieve the results they had hoped for. These learners are reminded that an examination outcome alone does not define their worth or future prospects. Government, through the Department of Basic Education and its partners, will ensure that psychosocial support services are accessible to learners during this period.
Learners experiencing emotional distress, anxiety or disappointment are encouraged to seek support through the following free and confidential services:
Childline South Africa: 116 (24-hour toll-free service for children and young people)
South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG -0800 567 567 (24-HOUR TOLL-FREE)
Suicide Crisis Line: 0800 567 567
Cipla WhatsApp Chat Line : 076 882 2775
Learners who did not pass or get the results that they hoped for are further encouraged to explore the Second Chance Matric Programme, supplementary examinations, and alternative education and training pathways. The Second Chance Programme is provided free of charge to candidates. These pathways provide meaningful opportunities for learners to complete their schooling or acquire market-relevant skills.
Government reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that no learner is left behind and that every young person is supported to realise their full potential. Once again, government congratulates the Class of 2025 and wishes all learners success on their future endeavours.
Media enquiries:
Mr
Terry Vandayar, Acting Government Spokesperson
Cell:
082 444 9092
Mr
William Baloyi, Deputy Government Spokesperson
Cell: 083 390 7147
Issued by Government Communications
International-Solidarity
Education International condemns U.S. withdrawal from international organisations, conventions, and treaties
Democracy, 12 January 2026
Education International notes the lamentable, misguided, and dangerous decision of the Trump Administration to withdraw from 66 international entities that foster global cooperation. Trump's claim that multilateral cooperation and international law are contrary to national interests is false and harmful to both the United States and the world.
Education International represents over 33 million educators across 180 countries and territories, including millions of teachers and education support personnel in the United States through our member organisations, the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers.
As the teachers of the world, we are dedicated to the well-being and flourishing of all our students and communities. We strongly believe that international cooperation, universal principles, and binding treaties are the mortar that holds together our common security.
"By turning away from the global community during a time of mounting conflict, extremism, climate disasters, and displacement, the Trump Administration is choosing to abandon our collective responsibility to the future of our planet and children," stated Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association.
"Multilateralism and international cooperation – enshrined through the critical function of many of these organizations – protect the universal right to education that all children deserve. The NEA stands in unwavering solidarity with educators and unionists around the world as we fight for our shared humanity. We refuse to back down from our commitment to universal human rights, accountability, and a just future for our planet,” she added.
History teaches that the United Nations represents humanity's will to bring together our collective knowledge and resolve to address global issues peacefully and effectively. No country, no matter how powerful, can afford to ignore this lesson.
“Educators know our classrooms don’t exist in isolation—and neither should our nations. Walking away from international cooperation undermines the very principles of shared responsibility and solidarity that keep our world safe and ensure a more just future for our students,” reiterated Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.
"These agreements grew out of two world wars that cost millions of people their lives, including thousands of American servicemembers. Why not learn from history? Ironically, this so called “America first” agenda will hurt Americans first.”
It is destabilising and dangerous for the U.S. - one of the main architects of the international system – to now refuse to abide by the rules it helped establish, take what it wants by force, and act without legitimacy as part of an extreme nationalist agenda.
The educators of the United States were instrumental in founding Education International and the United Nations because they saw the world as our common home that we must carefully steward and preserve for future generations.
Educators around the world stand with our colleagues in the United States who are resisting the Trump Administration’s attempt to return to the dark age of might makes right at home and abroad. Together, our global education union movement will continue to protect and advance universal human rights, multilateralism, international law, and global cooperation for a peaceful and just world for all.
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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