Taking COSATU Today Forward, 14 January 2026 #Back2SchoolCampaign #Right2LearnCampaign
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY #COSATU launching #Back2School and #Right2Learn Campaigns across all provinces #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
14 January 2026
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- COSATU KZN congratulates the Matric Class of 2025 and KwaZulu-Natal for achieving first place nationally
- The South African Democratic Teacher’s Union (SADTU) in the Western Cape congratulates the NSC class of 2025
- South Africa
- COSATU notes the National Assembly's passing of the Special Appropriation Bill
- SADTU welcomes members and learners to the 2026 academic year
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- ITUC and TUCA firmly condemn the US military attack on Venezuela and the violation of its sovereignty
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
COSATU KZN congratulates the Matric Class of 2025 and KwaZulu-Natal for achieving first place nationally
Issued by COSATU KwaZulu-Natla Edwin Mkhize, COSATU KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Secretary
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in KwaZulu-Natal notes the release of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) results and conveys its warmest congratulations to the Matric Class of 2025.
We further congratulate the people of KwaZulu-Natal for achieving first place nationally, an achievement that reflects the collective efforts of the working-class and the public education system.
COSATU reaffirms its long-standing position that education is a public good and a key pillar of social transformation.
The achievement is not accidental, nor is it the result of individual brilliance alone, but the outcome of sustained investment in public education, the commitment of educators, education workers, school management teams and the resilience and determination of learners from working-class communities.
KwaZulu-Natal contributed 171 368 candidates to the 2025 NSC examinations, the highest number nationally, followed by Gauteng with 140 927, Eastern Cape with 106 561, etc.
The province's attainment of a 90.6% pass rate and first position nationally, demonstrates what can be achieved when the state, educators, workers, school governing bodies, families and learners work effectively in defence and advancement of public education.
COSATU acknowledges the extraordinary sacrifices made by teachers and education workers, many of whom conducted additional classes during weekends, evenings and school holidays to ensure learner success. These efforts reaffirm the central role of educators as frontline public servants and agents of social development.
We are further encouraged by the growth in learner participation, particularly among young women. The increase in female candidates from 96 043 in 2024 to 101 167 in 2025 and male candidates from 73 109 to 76 843, reflects positive progress towards greater access, retention and participation within the education system. While celebrating this achievement, COSATU emphasises that the struggle to transform education is ongoing.
The 2026 academic year must commence under conditions that promote learning dignity and equality. It is therefore unacceptable that reports indicate that nearly 40% of learners in the province may start the academic year without essential learning materials such as exercise books.
COSATU calls on the Department of Basic Education and provincial authorities to urgently intervene to ensure the timely delivery of learning and teaching support materials, in line with constitutional obligations.
COSATU further acknowledges the contribution of current and former leadership within the education sector.
Consistent leadership, importance of policy continuity and a commitment to strengthening state capacity remain critical to sustaining gains and addressing systemic challenges in education.
The federation also salutes its affiliate, SADTU for its unwavering commitment in advocating for quality education, rights and sanity of educators.
SADTU's leadership in convening principal's and teacher's forums supporting educators, encouraging resounding achievements and confronting challenges such as non-payment of norms and standards, por working conditions and attacks on teachers, remains vital in strengthening learner dignity.
However, COSATU remains concerned about persistent systemic weaknesses, particularly the lack of effective learner tracking from Grade 1 through Grade 12, as well as the gap between Grade 12 enrolments and the number of learners who ultimately write the final examinations. Addressing these challenges requires urgent, coordinated state intervention and accountability.
COSATU further reiterates its position that no learner must be abandoned.
Learners who did not succeed in 2025 must be supported through alternative pathways, including various training development colleges, skills development programmes and second-chance opportunities.
Families, society and social partners must work collectively to ensure that failure does not become a permanent barrier to a dignified future.
In conclusion, COSATU KZN wishes the Matric Class of 2026 a disciplined, focused and successful academic year.
We remain committed to the defence and strengthening of public education as a cornerstone of working-class empowerment, social justice and national development.
Issued by COSATU KwaZulu-Natal
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The South African Democratic Teacher’s Union (SADTU) in the Western Cape congratulates the NSC class of 2025
Sibongile Kwazi, SADTU Western Cape Provincial Secretary, 13 January 2026
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) in the Western Cape congratulates the class of 2025 on their outstanding performance in the NSC examinations, released on 12 January 2026.
We salute the educators and learners for their resilience and commitment in achieving record breaking results. It is heartening to see the good performance of our marginalized, disadvantaged schools and we are very proud of our comrades. We also acknowledge the role played by all educators in the system, from our Grade R educators who laid the firm foundation.
The Western Cape achieved its highest ever NSC pass rate of 88,2%, up from 86,6% in 2024. This remarkable achievement reflects the dedication of learners, teachers, parents and other supporting organisations across the province. The key highlights include:
Bachelor’s pass rate: 49,2%, the highest ever for the province and the second highest nationally.
Mathematics pass rate: 73,7%, showing strong improvement and competitiveness.
Physical Science pass rate: 80,6%, the second highest in the country
Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN): 91,9%, exceeding expectations and ranking second nationally.
Learners who are reliant on social grants performed better, highlighting the link between social support and academic support.
A total of 77,442 candidates wrote the NSC exams of which 67 606 were full time learners.
While the province performed competitively, SADTU WC emphasizes that quality education must go beyond percentages.
We remain concerned about the persistent inequalities in the province, particularly in the under-resourced township and rural schools. We call for urgent investment in infrastructure, employment of more educators, teacher development and learner support.
The debate around the 30% pass threshold must be addressed to ensure that results reflect genuine learning outcomes and readiness for higher education and employment.
As the Western Cape is rated amongst the most violent provinces, we urge the provincial government to expand psychosocial support and academic support programs, particularly for learners from disadvantaged communities. We also note that the drop-out rate intensifies in Grade 11-12. Retention and support must improve to ensure learners reach their matric year. Mathematics and Physical Science participation is increasing, but performance has declined. Stronger foundational support is needed to balance access to quality public education.
We urge all our unsuccessful learners to pursue rewriting and second chance opportunities. The class of 2025 set new records, and it is our collective responsibility to sustain the momentum and close the gaps that remain.
Issued by Western Cape SADTU Secretariat
COSATU notes the National Assembly's passing of the Special Appropriation Bill
Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 13 January 2026
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) notes the National Assembly’s passing of the Special Appropriation Bill. The Bill provides an additional R754 million to the National Department of Health in response to R4 billion in funding cuts from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for HIV/AIDs and other public healthcare programmes.
The United States President’s Emergency Plan for HIV/AIDS (PEPFAR)’s funding through USAID and the National Institute for Health (NIH) and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has played an invaluable role in the African continent and in particular in South Africa as an epicentre of the global pandemic of HIV/AIDS. These programmes have helped prolong and save the lives of millions, in particular the poor, across South Africa and Africa over the past 22 years. This has enabled recipients of these healthcare programmes to continue working and leading active lives.
COSATU was extremely distressed by the impact of the sudden cut in funding through USAID to more than 500 000 South Africans living with HIV/AIDS in February 2025. We have been equally concerned about the loss of funding for the jobs of 20 000 university, community health and NGO workers.
We had engaged the South African government then to cover the funding shortfall equivalent initially to R4 billion dispensed through USAID. We have been pleased that an equivalent R4 billion funding through the NIH has continued and that the CDC subsequently authorised the release of R2 billion to minimise the impact of the funding cuts on lives for the remainder of the financial year.
Whilst welcoming the R754 million supplementary allocation by the Bill for the Department of Health, we remain disappointed that it does not cover the full funding shortfall and in essence there remains a gap of R1.25 billion. This was largely for university and NGO community health clinics. These losses remain.
We are equally disappointed that it took so long for government to provide additional funding. The consequences are that those university, community and NGO health workers remain unemployed and the invaluable lifesaving work they did, has ended.
It is fundamental that government and Parliament ensure that the 2026/27 Budget and the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework provides the Department of Health the resources it requires to fulfill its constitutional mandate to provide accessible and quality public healthcare for all South Africans and that the journey to rolling out the National Health Insurance as the foundation for universal healthcare is expedited.
Whilst welcoming financial and other support from the US, Europe, China and any other nations, any such resources should be utilised to build clinics and hospitals, invest in infrastructure capacity and purchase ambulances and other physical assets. This will help minimise disruptions when such funding inevitably comes to an end.
Issued by COSATU
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SADTU welcomes members and learners to the 2026 academic year
Mugwena Maluleke, SADTU General Secretary, 13 January 2026
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) warmly welcomes all educators, support staff, and learners to the commencement of the 2026 academic year as school open their doors to learners on Wednesday, 14 January 2026.
We extend a special welcome to learners entering school for the first time, as well as those transitioning to new phases of their educational journey. We wish all our members strength, good health, and renewed commitment as they continue with the noble task of shaping the future of our country.
The start of a new academic year symbolises hope, renewal, and the opportunity to build on the gains of previous years. Despite the many challenges confronting the public education system, teachers continue to demonstrate unwavering dedication, professionalism, and resilience in ensuring that teaching and learning take place under all circumstances. SADTU salutes its members for remaining steadfast in their commitment to quality public education.
We want learning and teaching take place on the first day of school in all schools across the country, but this does not happen as some schools are still waiting for the delivery of learning and teaching materials. Some learners are still in the queues waiting to be registered in schools.
We acknowledge that the 2026 academic year begins in the context of deepening austerity measures. These measures continue to have a severe impact on the basic education sector, resulting in shortages of teachers, overcrowded classrooms, inadequate infrastructure, delayed provision of learning and teaching support materials, and increasing workloads for educators. Teaching and learning will therefore take place under difficult conditions that place immense pressure on both educators and learners.
SADTU remains deeply concerned that austerity measures undermine the constitutional right to basic education and compromise the quality of teaching and learning, particularly in no-fee-paying and rural schools. The continued freezing of posts, budget cuts, and failure to adequately invest in education threaten to reverse hard-won gains made in improving learner performance and access to education.
Despite these challenges, SADTU calls on its members to remain professional, united, and focused on the core mandate of education. At the same time, we reaffirm that educators cannot be expected to do more with less indefinitely. The sacrifice and resilience of teachers must not be normalised or exploited. Government has a responsibility to ensure that schools are properly resourced, staffed, and supported so that educators can perform their duties effectively and learners can learn in safe, dignified, and enabling environments.
As part of SADTU’s I Am a School Fan campaign, we also call on parents, school governing bodies, communities, and all social partners to collaborate with educators and schools to support learners throughout the 2026 academic year. Education is a societal responsibility, and collective effort is required to safeguard the future of our children. We urge communities to be the eyes and ears of their schools; ensure they are safe and that learning and teaching takes place without any disturbances.
As SADTU, we reiterate our commitment to defending the rights, conditions of service, and professional dignity of educators, while continuing to advocate for a well-funded, equitable, and quality public education system. We will continue to engage government and all relevant stakeholders to oppose austerity measures that harm education and to advance the interests of both educators and learners.
We wish all our members and learners a productive, safe, and successful 2026 academic year.
ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat
International-Solidarity
ITUC and TUCA firmly condemn the US military attack on Venezuela and the violation of its sovereignty
3 January 2026
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA) express their absolute and unequivocal rejection of the military operation carried out today by the government of the United States of America on the territory of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA) express their absolute and categorical rejection of the military operation conducted in the early hours of today, 3 January 2026, by the government of the United States of America on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Considering the gravity of the events, which include the bombing of facilities in Caracas and confirmation by the US government of President Nicolás Maduro’s capture and abduction, the international trade union movement:
Condemns the military intervention: We denounce this action as a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and the fundamental principles of international law. The use of military force and the incursion into the territory of a sovereign nation constitute an unacceptable act of war that threatens the peace and the stability of the entire region.
Defends sovereignty and self-determination: In line with our historic defence of the autonomy of peoples, and in support of the statements by the governments of the region demanding unrestricted respect for Venezuela’s sovereignty, we reject any attempt at regime change through the use of force or foreign interference. The fate of Venezuela must be determined solely by the Venezuelan people, through democratic and peaceful means, without imperial tutelage.
Demands respect for human rights: We join in the urgent international demands for proof that President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are alive, for respect for their physical integrity, and for their release, along with that of any other citizens detained in this illegal operation. Full transparency regarding their current status must immediately be provided to the international community.
Calls for peace and dialogue: We share the position expressed by the governments of Brazil, Mexico and other sovereign nations, condemning the violence and stressing the urgent need for a return to diplomatic channels. The region must remain a Peace Zone; we will not allow Latin America to be dragged into an armed conflict over geopolitical interests that are not those of our peoples.
“In no way do these acts defend democracy. They are clear acts of aggression in the context of a militarised foreign policy agenda driven by unilateral economic interests,” said ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle. “Threats of abduction and the misuse of the courts to attack a sovereign government undermine the rule of law, internationally, and set a precedent for imperialist coercion that represents a threat to peace everywhere.”
“We, the trade union movement in the Americas, condemn the military attack and the abduction of President Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, a violation of the sovereignty and integrity of Venezuela and the whole of Latin America and the Caribbean, declared a Peace Zone by CELAC in 2014. We are launching international solidarity mechanisms with the people and workers of Venezuela,” said TUCA General Secretary Rafael Freire. “We stand in defence of Venezuela and all of Latin America as a territory of peace. We do not accept invasion and the use of violence against our peoples and territories. The trade union movement is, as always, on the frontline of defending sovereignty and self-determination, democracy and human rights.”
The ITUC and the TUCA remain mobilised against imperialist, military or economic interference in one country by another, against wars, and in the firm defence of peace, democracy and multilateralism.
For the sovereignty, peace and the self-determination of all peoples.
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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