Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 25 June 2026
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY COSATU Call Center Contacts: 010 002 2590 #Cosatu wishes #NEHAWU 13th National Congress successful deliberations at Boksburg, starting tomorrow… #WorkerControl #CosatuNationalActionAgainstHighCostofLiving #ClassWar #Cosatu40 #SACTU70 #ClassStruggle “Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism” #Back2Basics #JoinCOSATUNow #ClassConsciousness |
Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin
‘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
25 June 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!
- 2026 National Employment Equity Workshops Schedule
- Measuring the Impact of the 2025 National Minimum Wage Increase: A Technical Report for The National Minimum Wage Commission
- Media Advisory-Media Accreditation: NUM Central Committee Meeting (29 June – 2 July 2026)
- South Africa
- South African Local Government Association calls for tougher measures to curb political violence ahead of 2026 Local Government Elections
- Home Affairs launches upgraded online booking system to combat fraud and improve access to services
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- SACP welcomes the UN independent commission’s confirmation that the apartheid Israeli regime continues to commit genocide and other atrocities by deliberately targeting Palestinian children
- Americas audiovisual and acting unions set common agenda for decent work, inclusion and social protection
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics#ClassWar
2026
National Employment Equity Workshops Schedule
https://www.labour.gov.za/.../2026%20National...
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Measuring the Impact of the 2025 National Minimum Wage Increase: A Technical Report for The National Minimum Wage Commission
https://www.labour.gov.za/.../Measuring%20the%20Impacts...
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Media
Advisory-Media Accreditation: NUM Central Committee Meeting (29 June – 2 July 2026)
Livhuwani Mammburu, NUM National Spokesperson, 23 June 2026
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will convene its Central Committee (CC) meeting from 29 June to 2 July 2026 at the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg.
This year’s Central Committee is organized under the theme: “Consolidate Worker Control To Build A Road Map To Socialism.”
Key Speakers & Guests:
The event will feature addresses from high-profile leaders and key industry regulators, including:
• His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa
• Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa – Minister of Electricity and Energy
• Gwede Mantashe – Minister of Minerals and Petroleum Resources
• Nomakhosazana Meth – Minister of Employment and Labour
• Sihle Zikalala – Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
Fraternal Messages of Support
Leadership from the following alliance partners and international labour organizations are also scheduled to deliver messages of support:
• Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) President, Zingiswa Losi
• African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General ,Fikile Mbalula
• South African Communist Party (SACP) General Secretary, Solly Mapaila
• South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO)
• World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)
• IndustrALL Global Union
• Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI)
Accreditation Process
Members of the media are urged to apply for accreditation timeously. Please note that the NUM will not be able to accommodate last-minute or late accreditation requests due to security protocols.
To apply, please email your details (Full Name, Media House, Designation, and Contact Number) to the following officials:
• Livhuwani Mammburu (NUM National Spokesperson)
◦ Cell: 083 809 3257
◦ Email: lmam...@num.org.za, mamm...@gmail.com,
• Luphert Chilwane (NUM Media Officer)
◦ Cell: 083 809 3255
◦ Email: lchi...@num.org.za
South Africa #ClassSolidarity
South
African Local Government Association calls for tougher measures to curb political violence ahead of 2026 Local Government Elections
22
Jun 2026
SALGA calls for tougher measures to curb political violence ahead of 2026 Local Government Elections
Pretoria – The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) is calling for stronger measures to curb political violence and killings ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
This call follows a series of deadly incidents over the weekend in three provinces. In Cape Town, a by-election candidate was shot dead; in Gqeberha, a ward councillor was gunned down; and in the West Rand, two men affiliated with a political party were killed.
SALGA extends its deepest condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives in these attacks.
Tragically, these incidents are not isolated. They form part of a deeply concerning pattern of violence that often intensifies around election time. Data from SALGA’s Municipal Violence Incident Reporting (MVIR) system shows that hundreds of incidents – ranging
from threats and intimidation to killings – have been recorded since 2000 to date in the local government sphere, with heightened incidents during election periods.
Political violence undermines the foundations of our democracy. It creates fear, discourages citizens from serving in public office, and erodes the integrity of electoral processes. No one should ever lose their life simply for participating in democratic activities.
SALGA strongly condemns these callous acts of violence and calls on law enforcement agencies to act swiftly and decisively to bring those responsible to justice. Political killings must be treated as priority crimes, with urgent investigations and heightened
police visibility in identified hotspots. Prosecutions should also be expedited, and perpetrators must face the full might of the law, and consequences visible enough to send an unequivocal message that violence has no place in democratic contestation.
SALGA further calls on all political parties, candidates and communities to uphold the values of peaceful democratic contestation and to act decisively against intimidation, inflammatory conduct and factional violence. Political parties have a responsibility
to manage internal contestation responsibly, promote tolerance among supporters, cooperate fully with law enforcement, and ensure that competition for public office never becomes a trigger for violence.
SALGA remains committed to working with government, law enforcement, and all stakeholders to safeguard the integrity of the upcoming local government elections and ensure the safety of councillors and communities.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Motalatale Modiba | E-mail: mmo...@salga.org.za| Mobile: 072 515 3022
Issued by South African Local Government Association
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Home
Affairs launches upgraded online booking system to combat fraud and improve access to services
18
Jun 2026
Home Affairs launches upgraded online booking system to combat fraud and improve access to services
The Department of Home Affairs has launched an upgraded online booking system on the MyHomeAffairsOnline platform, introducing enhanced security measures to prevent the abuse of booking slots and improve access to services.
Users are now required to create a MyHomeAffairsOnline profile linked to their South African ID number and email address before making a booking, helping to ensure that appointments remain available to legitimate clients.
The upgrade follows years of abuse of the previous booking platform by syndicates and other unscrupulous individuals who exploited vulnerabilities in the system to block appointment slots and sell them on to desperate citizens.
As a result, many ordinary South Africans struggled to secure appointments for essential Home Affairs services.
The upgraded booking system is available at myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za and marks another milestone in Home Affairs' digital transformation journey to improve service delivery, combat fraud and deliver dignity for all.
The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, said: "For too long, ordinary South Africans were disadvantaged by criminals who exploited weaknesses in the previous booking system to hoard appointment slots and sell them for profit. The migration of our booking
system to MyHomeAffairsOnline directly addresses this abuse by linking bookings to verified user profiles, strengthening the integrity of the system and protecting citizens' access to services.
This reform advances our vision of Home Affairs @ home by making services more secure and convenient for citizens.”
Media Enquiries:
Carli van Wyk – Spokesperson to the Minister Cell: 079 166 3899
Issued by Department of Home Affairs
International-Solidarity
SACP welcomes the UN independent commission’s confirmation that the apartheid Israeli regime continues to commit genocide and other atrocities by deliberately targeting Palestinian children
Mbulelo Mandlana, SACP Head of Media, Communications and Information, 25 June 2026
The South African Communist Party (SACP) welcomes the latest report by the UN independent commission of inquiry confirming that the apartheid Israeli settler regime continues to commit genocide and other atrocities by deliberately targeting Palestinian children.
These findings must be followed by the swift international isolation of apartheid Israel and the international prosecution of the Israeli regime’s leaders for the crimes.
In its report released on 23 June, which condemns apartheid Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel found that, since 7 October 2023, Israel’s unending bombardment of Palestine has resulted in the death of at least 20,179 and injury of 44,143 children.
The Israeli regime’s murderous rampage since October 2023 has led to the death of over 100,000 Palestinians in Gaza. This factors the direct death of more than 73,039 Palestinians as well as indirect deaths caused by the regime’s bombardments, including missing individuals presumed dead under the rubble and deaths from disease. Over 173,388 have been injured.
The report states, further, that the killing of Palestinian children is not accidental but deliberate, as it is targeted – and Israel has continued to do so post the October 2025 Gaza peace plan. There is also a sharp increase in violence perpetrated by members of Israeli settlers against Palestinian children in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The regime and its settlers have killed at least 1,103 Palestinians, including 241 children, in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
In addition to the destruction of Palestinian infrastructure, the commission found that Israel’s criminal conduct caused physical and mental injuries, mass trauma, orphanhood, separation, disability, repeated displacements, starvation and the collapse of education and healthcare, thus erasing childhood, and will continue to affect children in Gaza throughout their lives.
The colonial regime, with the support of its principal imperialist ally, the US, has further arrested children and subjected them to torture and other severe forms of mistreatment in Israeli prisons and detention facilities, with no information on their whereabouts. It has also used sexual violence against children as part of the collective shaming and oppression entrenched within a prolonged, ethnic, gendered and intergenerational pattern of occupation and hostilities.
In light of the murderous rampage by the genocidal Israeli regime, the commission made recommendations for the cessation of attacks, reparations, accountability and international enforcement of sanctions aimed at advancing child-responsive justice.
The latest UN report shows that the noose is tightening on the apartheid settler regime. The SACP reiterates its call for the international isolation of Israel as well as the international prosecution of its leaders for the crime of genocide and other heinous international crimes. We also reiterate our support for the people of Palestine in their heroic fight for their liberation and call for global support for the Palestinians in their liberation struggle.
ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY,
FOUNDED IN 1921 AS THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SOUTH AFRICA.
Media, Communications & Information Department | MCID
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Americas audiovisual and acting unions set common agenda for decent work, inclusion and social protection
25 June 2026
Trade union representatives from the audiovisual and entertainment sectors across Latin America gathered this week in Bogotá, Colombia, for the joint
FIA-LA and UNI Americas Media, Entertainment & Arts meeting to exchange experiences and advance a shared agenda focused on labour rights, Artificial Intelligence, occupational health and safety, diversity and inclusion, and the prevention of violence and harassment
in the world of work.
The event brought together regional union leaders and government representatives to discuss the challenges facing cultural and audiovisual workers amid profound transformations within the industry.
During the opening session, Colombia’s Minister of Labour, Antonio Sanguino, highlighted the progress made in guaranteeing labor rights and social protection for workers who have historically carried out their work under informal conditions.
“The cultural sector – artists, actors, dancers, and cultural managers – has sustained Colombia’s cultural life from a position of informality, without sufficient guarantees, without contributing to pension systems and without social protection. We sought to
address this through a comprehensive policy that recognizes the sector as a productive industry,” he stated.
The Minister also emphasized the creation of permanent dialogue mechanisms with the sector and the need to strengthen specialized labor inspections to ensure decent working conditions across the various areas of cultural production.
Colombia’s Minister of Cultures, Arts and Knowledge, Yannai Kadamani, underscored the importance of building public policies that respond to the specific characteristics of artistic and cultural work.
“For the first time, arts and culture are being recognized in legislation. We cannot regulate the entire cultural sector through a single framework because each field has its own particularities, but we must speak a common language to guarantee rights.”
Kadamani also highlighted the role of social participation in ensuring the effective implementation of public policies and strengthening mechanisms for public oversight and accountability.
One of the main topics of discussion was occupational health and safety. Participating organizations examined the risks present in audiovisual productions, including long working hours, challenging filming conditions and the need to strengthen prevention measures
and specialized labour inspections.
Participants also exchanged experiences regarding diversity and inclusion, reviewing both progress and ongoing challenges in implementing policies aimed at preventing discrimination, promoting equal opportunities, and eliminating violence and harassment within
the sector.
Discussions included trade union experiences from across the region, as well as analysis of the implementation of international conventions related to gender equality, shared responsibility for care work, and the elimination of violence in the world of work.
Johannes Studinger, Global Head of UNI Media, Entertainment & Arts, emphasized the importance of strengthening regional trade union cooperation in response to the common challenges facing the cultural industry.
“The changes affecting our sector require collective responses. Sharing experiences and building common strategies allows us to strengthen unions’ capacity to defend workers’ rights throughout the region. The progress made in Colombia demonstrates what can
be achieved through solidarity.”
“From Argentina, we know very well the consequences of attacks on culture, trade unions and labour rights. That is why spaces for regional coordination such as this are essential to defend our achievements and build collective responses to the setbacks faced
by workers,” said Miguel Paniagua, President of UNI Americas Media, Entertainment & Arts.
For Lucía Lindner, Regional Director of UNI Americas Media, Entertainment & Arts, the meeting is particularly significant in an international context marked by the rise of political forces that challenge fundamental rights and attack trade unions, culture,
and equality policies.
“Across the region, we are witnessing how hate speech, authoritarian projects and austerity policies put at risk rights that took decades of collective organizing and struggle to achieve. Culture, freedom of expression and labour rights are often among the
first targets of these attacks. That is why it is so important to strengthen international trade union alliances and build collective responses that defend democracy, diversity and decent work within our cultural industries.”
The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue strengthening regional coordination and promoting joint actions to expand social protection, improve working conditions, and ensure that the development of the cultural and audiovisual industries is built
upon decent work and respect for human and labour rights.
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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