Taking COSATU Today Forward, 24 June 2025 #NUMCongress2025
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY #Cosatu wishes #NUM’s 18th elective National Congress successful deliberations #CosatuCallCentre number is 010 022 2590 #DecentWork #DecentLives #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
24 June 2025
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- NEHAWU calls on the CCMA to refrain from violating and disregarding the constitution and labour laws
- SAMWU Condemns Endumeni Municipality's Collapse and Calls for Immediate Accountability
- SAMWU strongly condemns uMhlathuze Municipality's misleading statements and failure to account for service delivery collapse
- COSATU supports POPCRU’s march against sexual harassment
- South Africa
- COSATU wishes the National Union of Mineworkers a fruitful National Congress
- SADTU message of support to the National Union of Mineworkers ahead of its National Congress
- NEHAWU wishes NUM a successful 18th National Congress
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- COSATU mourns the passing of trade unionist Basil Hargrove
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
NEHAWU calls on the CCMA to refrain from violating and disregarding the constitution and labour laws
Zola Saphetha, NEAHWU General Secretary, June 24, 2025
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] is dismayed by the way the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration [CCMA] is dealing with the right of its employees and part-time employees to associate with any union of choice and our recognition as a registered union at the institution.
As NEHAWU, we have recruited a number of employees working for the commission, following Section 21 of the Labour Relations Act and was requested by the commission that we undertake a verification exercise which confirmed the membership of the union. Having undergone these processes, the management in this institution has made it clear that it shall not grant the union a recognition agreement and organisational rights, despite the fact that we have met all the legal requirements as stipulated and also that a number of workers at the CCMA have joined the union.
The CCMA as a custodian of the Labour Relations Act [LRA] is undermining the same LRA that it is supposed to protect and consciously depriving its employees the right to associate with an organisation of their choice.
This is the same CCMA that on daily basis forces other employers to comply with the LRA. They have tried to justify their reasons by stating that the CCMA is independent of the State, any political party, trade union, employer, employers' organisation, federation of trade unions or federation of employers' organisations, and on those basis, they are not going to grant us any organisational rights.
What further infuriates us is the fact that the management of CCMA has decided to grant organisational rights to a sweetheart staff association that is masquerading as a trade union and claiming to be representing the interests of the employees. The conduct of the management of the commission goes totally against the values and ethos of the CCMA which entail promoting social justice and fairness in the workplace by delivering ethical, qualitative, innovative and cost effective dispute and resolution services, institution building services, education, training and development and efficient administration.
As NEHAWU, we have complied with Section 21 of the Labour Relations Act by submitting all the required documentation and clarified the rights we seek as a union.
The union held its national meeting with the representative of its members in the CCMA on the 20th of June 2025, where a decision was taken that the union must do everything possible in its power to fight this intransigent management of CCMA by exploring all avenues available at its disposal both legally and organisational including declaring a dispute immediately on the issue of recognition agreement.
We demand to the management of CCMA to urgently relook at their attitude towards NEHAWU, as the union shall not fight for its recognition at this age and stage of our democracy particularly under an institution that we were instrumental in its formation and establishment as a transformative union.
Lastly, we make this demand simple because the union shall not fold its arms and watch this management distort and misinterpret the law and at worst tolerate the delaying tactics implored by the employer on the rights of workers as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
Actually we want to categorically say to CCMA management that undermine NEHAWU at your peril and you shall see the mighty of this red and militant national union.
END
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat.
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SAMWU condemns Endumeni Municipality's collapse and calls for immediate accountability
Jabulile Mokoena, SAMWU Regional Secretary, 23 June 2025
The South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU) expresses its profound dismay at the alarming situation in Endumeni Municipality, where we believe its catastrophic collapse is being actively facilitated by both the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and the Office of the Premier.
On 14 March 2025, a report, laden with damning findings from an investigation sanctioned by the MEC under Section 106 of the Municipal System Act, was presented to the Endumeni council. This critical report highlighted the irregular appointment of a security company, a blatant violation of SCM policy and applicable regulations. The report unequivocally recommended that disciplinary proceedings be instituted against the Municipal Manager, Mr Sithembiso Ntombela, and another senior official, in addition to the laying of criminal charges with the SAPS. The MEC explicitly directed the council to table this report for deliberation and to consider its vital recommendations, allowing them a mere 21 days to report back on the progress of its implementation.
Yet, instead of swift action, we witnessed a concerted campaign by the governing IFP/DA coalition to obstruct the tabling of this report, a transparent attempt to shield the implicated officials from accountability. Despite immense pressure from the media, the Speaker eventually issued a notice for a council meeting to address the report. However, on the appointed day, not a single councillor from the governing coalition attended, rendering the meeting impossible and forcing its abandonment. These deliberate delays afforded the Municipal Manager sufficient time to resign from his position, escaping any consequences for his actions.
What exacerbates this already appalling situation is the shocking revelation that the Municipal Manager actually resigned to take up a senior position at the Office of the Premier, where he now serves as the Acting Chief Financial Officer. It is utterly reprehensible that an individual responsible for the collapse of a government institution should be rewarded with a promotion to the highest office in the province – an office that is expected to embody and uphold the most stringent standards of moral and ethical leadership.
Mr Ntombela embarked on a systematic persecution and purge of our dedicated members. Some were unjustly suspended for protracted periods on baseless allegations, while others faced dismissal, only for these dismissals to be rightfully overturned by the Bargaining Council, incurring astronomical legal costs for this already beleaguered Municipality. In one particularly egregious case, this cash-strapped Municipality squandered over R5 million in legal fees conducting an internal disciplinary hearing and an arbitration, only to suffer a resounding defeat at arbitration.
Now, in a display of sheer arrogance and disregard for public funds, they intend to pursue a hopeless review application with the Labour Court, an endeavour likely to cost the Municipality millions more.
As a Union, we refuse to stand idly by and witness our members being terrorised, nor will we permit disciplinary processes to be weaponised against them. We will deploy every legal instrument at our disposal to compel this Municipality to respect the hard-won rights of our members in the workplace. To this end, we will be consulting with our members and our internal structures to formulate a robust program of action.
This program will commence with peaceful demonstrations against this intransigent employer, and may regrettably culminate in a full-blown strike, leading to a complete shutdown of services.
In conclusion, as a Union, we remain steadfast in our commitment to resolving workplace problems through constructive dialogue and the utilisation of legislated forums of engagement. However, let it be unequivocally clear: we will not hesitate to invoke the ultimate tool at our disposal – the withholding of our labour.
Issued by SAMWU Professor Sibankulu Region
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SAMWU Strongly Condemns uMhlathuze Municipality's Misleading Statements and Failure to Account for Service Delivery Collapse
Zandile Gumede, SAMWU Regional Secretary, 23 June 2025
The South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU) notes with grave concern the ongoing and misleading statements by the uMhlathuze Local Municipality, which aim to conceal the municipality's failures in delivering services to communities.
The municipality's deliberate and dishonest narrative attempts to blame striking workers for the service delivery crisis. As a Union, we view these actions as a cowardly attempt to divert public attention from the real issues of systemic corruption and the squandering of public funds intended for the people of Esakhiwini.
SAMWU unequivocally states that the collapse in service delivery is not the fault of the workers but rather a direct result of chronic corruption, maladministration, and poor leadership within the municipality. Peaceful protests by SAMWU workers in the municipality have not interfered with service delivery, particularly the provision of water in Esikhawini. This is, therefore, a systematic attempt to divert attention from serious infrastructure failures that have affected not only ward 13 but many other wards within the municipality. We firmly believe that Mr. Mhlongo's attempts to divert attention from his failure to provide services require a thorough assessment by the community, the full Council, and COGTA.
The workers' strike is both lawful and protected, with a strike certificate duly issued by the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) following all processes outlined in the Labour Relations Act (LRA). In an attempt to silence workers and suppress their rights, the Municipality twice approached the Labour Court seeking to interdict the strike, failing on both occasions. The Municipality is well aware that the Labour Court is the only competent body to declare a strike unlawful, and SAMWU calls upon all Councillors to question the Municipal Manager and his team of directors about the true state of affairs in the Municipality.
Most notably, on 12 June 2025, the Labour Court struck the Municipality's urgent application off the roll, with Madam Justice Yellen Yaman rebuking both the Municipality and their legal representatives. The Court found that they had failed to comply with court rules and provisions of the LRA, condemning their desperate and unlawful attempt to interfere with workers' rights to engage in a peaceful and protected strike. Despite this, the Municipality, fully aware of the Labour Court order, continues to mislead the public about the legality of the strike. SAMWU and its leadership will not jeopardise the lives of oppressed workers by sanctioning an unprotected strike. The strike remains protected under the act and the certificate issued by the SALGBC.
We, therefore, call upon the municipality to immediately cease issuing misleading statements and focus its energy on improving the lives of all uMhlathuze residents. We further need to place on record that the Municipal Manager has called off negotiations that began on Friday, 20 June 2025.
This unfortunate decision indicates a Municipal Manager who is not interested in addressing issues raised by workers, and rather seeks to scapegoat them and pit them against the communities they live in and serve.
We need to stress that before we are municipal workers, we are community members, and as such, we want to see municipalities function and deliver services.
It is unfortunate that as a result of the employer's arrogance, workers have had to resort to strike action. We should, however, stress that as a Union with roots in the communities we serve, we have taken a deliberate decision not to allow essential service workers to participate in the strike action since there is no Minimum Service Agreement with the municipality.
It is therefore incorrect to attribute water disruption to the ongoing peaceful strike. This is not only a victory for workers but a clear indictment of the Municipality's gross incompetence and arrogance, as it continues to waste public resources fighting its own employees instead of addressing deep-rooted community issues.
SAMWU calls upon all communities under uMhlathuze Municipality to stand with workers in demanding clean governance, ethical leadership, and dignified service delivery, urging them never to accept any attempts to use workers as scapegoats for the rot within the municipality. We once again remind the Municipal Manager to immediately cease his embarrassing ignorance and insolent behaviour towards the uMhlathuze community and begin to read and act on reports from his junior managers regarding daily challenges, including Sunday's incident.
The fight of workers is the fight of the community , and service delivery will only improve when corruption is defeated and accountable governance is restored.
Issued by SAMWU Shonamalanga Region
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COSATU supports POPCRU’s march against sexual harassment
Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 23 June 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) whole-heartedly supports its principled Affiliate, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU)’s Restore Dignity March, planned for Tuesday, 24 June.
The march is part of POPCRU’s ongoing campaign to defend workers’ rights, uphold human dignity within the criminal justice cluster, and demand decisive action against systemic injustices impacting members of the South African Police Service and Correctional Services.
It is also an appropriate and necessary response to the allegations of sexual exploitation of trainees at SAPS training facilities and in workplaces in general. COSATU joins POPCRU in condemning all forms of sexual harassment in the workplace as a violation of human rights and dignity and a gross abuse of power. We cannot have the same people who are supposed to protect society from gender-based violence and other calamities, be perpetrators of this horrific scourge.
Those found guilty of preying on fellow police service members, particularly the young and vulnerable, must face the full might of the law regardless of rank or position.
It is equally critical that workers across all sectors, be trained on the 2021 amendments to the Sexual Offences and Criminal Procedures Acts, to ensure that they are fully empowered with regards to the rights and responsibilities in the fight against the pandemic of gender-based violence, including sexual harassment at the workplace.
Details of the March:
• Date: Tuesday, 24 June 2025
• Time: 08h00
• Meeting Point: Burgers Park, Pretoria
• Route: March to the Shorburg Building, 429 Helen Joseph Street, Pretoria
• Purpose: Handing over of a Memorandum of Demands to the National Police Commissioner
Issued by COSATU
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COSATU wishes the National Union of Mineworkers a fruitful National Congress
Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 23 June 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) wishes its militant Affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) a successful 18th National Elective Congress.
Delegates including leaders from the Federation, Alliance partners, academia and key stakeholders in the mining, construction, energy and metal sectors will converge in Boksburg at the Birchwood Hotel from 24 to 26 June, under the theme: “The Epoch For The Dictatorship of The Proletariat Now Or Never.”
NUM, a founding Affiliate of COSATU, has played an historic role not only in the Federation and liberation movement, but also in our transformation journey since the democratic breakthrough of 1994. It is not an accident that this giant of the struggle has produced two Presidents of the Republic as well as three Secretaries-General of the African National Congress.
The three-day event comes at a time when the sectors where the NUM organises are in desperate need of vigorous deliberations that will lead to tangible intervention, capable of inciting change.
Yearly, the industries present turbulence in the form of massive job losses, inefficient state-owned entities, and untamed companies practicing questionable processes, resulting in damaging repercussions for workers.
Last year the mining sector alone shed more than 13 000 jobs. It is infuriating to learn that the causes of retrenchments in this sector are often accompanied by companies failing to adhere to regulations governing retrenchments in the mining sector.
The arrogance of executives of these businesses releasing workers from their positions to fill them with subcontractors under the pretext of cost cutting, reeks of greed and brazen exploitation of workers. The profits generated would not be exorbitant amounts if it was not for the toil of the workers.
Yet they are shortchanged recklessly by licensees given the authority to operate.
As the threat to job security is ever-present, so is the danger to life. Whilst the South African mining industry recorded 42 fatalities in 2024 marking the lowest-ever number of fatalities in the history of mining in the country, one fatality remains one too many.
COSATU is confident that the engagements of the NUM’s National Congress will continue to resist unsafe working conditions, holding companies accountable, not only in the mining sector. Additional to health and safety standards, workers in these sectors deserve fair salaries negotiated in good faith.
We wish the NUM productive deliberations and for the union to emerge victorious, as it always has.
Issued by COSATU
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SADTU message of support to the National Union of Mineworkers ahead of its National Congress
Dr Mugwena Maluleke, SADTU General Secretary, 23 June 2025
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU), the largest trade union in the public sector, extends its revolutionary message of solidarity and support to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) as it convenes its 18th National Elective Congress from 24 to 26 June 2025.
The Congress will take place at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg, Gauteng.
We recognise that NUM as a critical ally in the broader progressive trade union movement and in the fight for social justice, workers’ rights, and economic transformation. As SADTU, we stand united with NUM in our shared struggle to dismantle capitalist exploitation and to advance the interests of the working class.
Convened under the powerful and urgent theme, “The Epoch For The Dictatorship of The Proletariat Now or Never,”
Tthis Congress comes at a time when the working class continues to face unprecedented attacks on wages, job security, and dignity. We are inspired by NUM’s unwavering commitment to building working-class power and leading the call for a socialist future in which the wealth of our country benefits the many, not the few.
SADTU calls upon all delegates attending the Congress to deepen unity, sharpen class consciousness, and emerge from this gathering with renewed energy to confront neoliberalism and defend the historic mission of the working class.
We believe the outcomes of this Congress will resonate across the labour movement and help steer our collective efforts as trade unions towards meaningful change.
Forward with worker solidarity! Forward with revolutionary trade unionism!!
Long live NUM!!!
ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat
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NEHAWU wishes NUM a successful 18th National Congress
Zola Saphetha, NUM National Congress, June 24, 2025
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] wishes its sister union, the National Union of Mineworkers [NUM] a very successful and united 18th National Congress taking place as from today, the 24th – 26th of June 2025.
The congress is convened under the theme “The Epoch for the Dictatorship of The Proletariat Now or Never”. This congress comes at the time when the working people and the working class in general are subjected to suffocation, pains and miseries as a result of neo liberal policies imposed by government and bosses. NUM, as our reliable and critical ally in the broader working class struggles, we stand united with NUM in our shared and committed strategic perspective to overthrow capitalism as an exploitative barbaric and inhuman system in advancing the interests of the working class and workers in particular.
Indeed, this congress takes place against the background of vicious and relentless onslaught on collective bargaining and the eroding of workers’ rights by the employers in the construction and mining industry. This is evident with employers resorting to retrenchments as part of an onslaught on mine and construction workers.
As NEHAWU, we are looking forward to a congress that will be characterized by robust and in-depth debates on how to strengthen the ability of NUM in continuing to be a fighting and campaigning militant union that places the interests of workers at the centre against the super exploitative mining, construction and energy conglomerates, that have subjected workers into unbearable and inhumane working conditions and poverty wages all in the name of profit maximisation.
We are confident that the congress will deliberate on a concrete programme of action that will focus on protecting job security of members, fighting against retrenchments and privatisation, defending collective bargaining and campaigning for health and safety in the workplace amongst others in the defence of workers.
It is our belief that delegates attending the congress will map out a strategy to deepen class consciousness, defend collective bargaining and to forge the unity of NUM that has been built over time.
As NEHAWU, we hope the NUM will emerge from this congress with a revived energy and resolute to defend the essence of its existence and strong to confront all forms of neo-liberalism. Indeed, NEHAWU is looking forward to the outcomes of this historic congress and ready to engage its sister union on them for a joint possible programme in the terrain of struggle.
END
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat.
International-Solidarity
COSATU mourns the passing of trade unionist Basil Hargrove
Bongani Masuku, COSATU International Secretary, 23 June 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) joins the global labour movement in mourning the death of Canadian trade unionist, Basil ‘Buzz’ Hargrove.
Described as a labour giant, Hargrove was President of Canada’s largest private sector union, the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW), from 1992 to 2008, when he retired aged 65. He was 81 at the time of his death.
Paying tribute to Hargrove, Unifor which was formed in 2013 when CAW merged with the Communications, Energy and Papresworkers Union, dubbed him, “a tireless advocate for working people and a deeply respected leader.”
Recognised for his negotiating prowess, Hargrove led negotiations with major employers including General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Air Canada and CN Rail. He secured gains for workers that elevated employment conditions across sectors.
Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, had the opportunity to work with Hargrove during his tenure as General Secretary of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA). Together they collaborated with automotive unions globally to form bargaining strategies and approaches for the sector. Godongwana has credited Hargrove for improving conditions of work saying, “Benefits such as better wages and pensions were achieved through the right to bargain which came as a result of labour activism from leaders like Comrade Buzz.”
The Canadian labour giant has been praised for not forgetting where he came from and for his unwavering devotion to the movement over many decades from when he was a young worker at Chrysler.
COSATU pays homage to Comrade Basil and the entire Canadian workers movement, who during the height of apartheid joined other workers across the world and stood in solidarity in the fight for human rights, for a non-racial and democratic South Africa, and in support of COSATU and the broad liberation movement.
Leaders of his calibre are rare and will forever be missed. COSATU sends its heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and comrades around the world.
Issued by COSATU
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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