Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 17 June 2026 #CosatuNationalActionAgainstCostofLiving
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY COSATU Call Center Contacts: 010 002 2590 #COSATU set to launch the Cost of Living Campaign this month, on the 19th June… #NationaActionAgainstCostOfLiving #ILC2026 #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
17 June 2026
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- COSATU Mpumalanga to intensify the fight against the high cost of living through provincial pickets in Nkomazi and Gert Sibande
- Department of Employment and Labour, CEE and CCMA to begin 2026 national advocacy to promote equity in workplaces
- NEHAWU to convene its 13th National Congress
- South Africa
- Organised Labour Statement on Migration and South Africa’s Economic Crisis
- South Africa’s Organised Labour demand action on Unemployment Insurance and Compensation of Occupational Injuries and Diseases Funds
- Home Affairs and Constitutional Development establish priority court in Durban
- The Minerals Council South Africa will engage the government on its Industrial Development Strategy 2026
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Presidency cautions against spread of misinformation about South Africa’s migration challenges
- From Geneva to the World: South Africa’s Unstoppable Rise in Shaping the Future of Work
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics #ClassWar
COSATU Mpumalanga to intensify the fight against the high cost of living through provincial pickets in Nkomazi and Gert Sibande
Thabo Mokoena, COSATU Mpumalanga Provincial Secretary, 17 June 2026
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in Mpumalanga will continue its provincial Cost of Living Campaign through two coordinated pickets taking place on Friday, 19 June 2026, at 10h00, in solidarity with our affiliated unions and workers who continue to face exploitation, deteriorating working conditions and growing economic hardship.
These activities form part of COSATU's ongoing campaign to defend workers' rights, demand decent working conditions and intensify the fight against the rising cost of living that continues to place unbearable pressure on working-class families.
NKOMAZI PICKET IN SUPPORT OF SACCAWU
The first picket will take place at Matsamo Mall in Nkomazi in support of the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU).
The picket will raise the following critical demands:
- Strict compliance with occupational health and safety standards in workplaces.
- Respect for working hours and the Basic Conditions of Employment.
- Decent treatment and dignity for retail workers.
- A united campaign against the escalating cost of living, which continues to erode workers' wages and living standards.
COSATU believes that workers should never be forced to choose between earning a living and working in unsafe or exploitative conditions. Employers must comply with labour legislation and ensure that workers' rights are always protected.
GERT SIBANDE PICKET IN SUPPORT OF CEPPWAWU
The second picket will take place at Sjonajona Plantation, Elukwatini (Sappi Forestry) in the Gert Sibande District in support of the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers' Union (CEPPWAWU).
The picket seeks to demand:
- The immediate reinstatement of more than 50 workers whose contracts have been unfairly terminated.
- Job security and protection against arbitrary termination of employment.
- Respect for workers' rights and fair labour practices.
COSATU strongly condemns the loss of jobs that continues to deepen poverty and unemployment in our communities. Every job lost represents a family deprived of income and dignity. We therefore stand firmly with the affected workers and call on all relevant stakeholders to engage urgently in finding a just and lasting solution.
CALL FOR SOLIDARITY
COSATU Mpumalanga calls on workers, community members, progressive organisations and all those committed to social justice to join these pickets in solidarity with the affected workers.
The struggle against the high cost of living cannot be separated from the struggle for decent work, safe workplaces, job security and respect for workers' rights. Together, we will continue to defend the interests of the working class and demand an economy that serves the people rather than profits.
Issued by: COSATU Mpumalanga
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Department of Employment and Labour, CEE and CCMA to begin 2026 national advocacy to promote equity in workplaces
17 June 2026
Employment Equity (EE) in South Africa is the foundation to achieve equality in the workplaces and in doing so the Department of Employment and Labour, the Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) and the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) are to begin the annual national EE workshops/roadshows to engage with various stakeholders.
The 2026 EE workshops/roadshows will begin in July in the Kimberley, Northern Cape Province.
This year's workshops/roadshows will be held under the theme: “Bridging the Equity Gap Through Diversity & Inclusion". These will be held between the months of July and September 2026 across all nine provinces.
According to Department of Employment and Labour EE Deputy Director, Masilo Lefika said achieving equity is still an extended journey.
Lefika said the workshops formed part of the Department's ongoing efforts to promote compliance with employment equity legislation, advance workplace transformation, and foster inclusive workplaces that reflect the labour market of the country's diverse workforce.
Lefika said the focus of 2026 workshops is:
- Presentation on the Draft Amended Code of Good Practice on the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the EE Plan;
- Presentation on practical demonstration of how to utilise the EE System online facilities to capture EE Reports and request EE Certificate of Compliance;
- Presentation on sharing of all types of unfair discrimination cases by the CCMA; and
- Presentation on labour law amendments – Labour Relations Act (LRA), Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), Employment Equity Act (EEA), National Minimum Wage Act (NMWA)
This year's national EE workshops/roadshows come a year following the implementation of the Employment Equity Amendment Act, No 4 of 2022 which came into force on 1 January 2025. The new amendments and regulations introduced the setting of five-year sector EE targets, the enhancement of EE System, how to request EE Certificate of Compliance to be able to conduct business with the State.
The national series of workshops/roadshows start on 21 July 2026 ending on 01 September 2026, with venues to be confirmed. In addition to workshops, there will also be engagements conducted through Microsoft Teams for all stakeholders on 08 and 09 September 2026.
The schedule of 2026 national workshops are as follows:
Northern Cape
- Kimberley – Horseshoe Inn 101 Memorial Road, Royldene (21July 2026)
Limpopo
- Polokwane – Meropa Casino 59 Prov Roodepoort Street, Ivy Park X14 (23 July 2026)
Mpumalanga
- Mbombela Khayalami Hotel 29 Van Wijk Street (28 July 2026)
North West
- Rustenburg – Orion Safari Hotel, 1 Donkerhoek Road (30 July 2026)
KwaZulu-Natal
- Durban (04 August 2026)
- Pietermaritzburg (06 August 2026)
Western Cape
- Cape Town (11 August 2026)
Eastern Cape
- KuGompo (18 August 2026)
- Gqeberha (20 August 2026)
Gauteng
- Pretoria (25 August 2026)
- Johannesburg (27 August 2026)
Free State
- Bloemfontein (01 September 2026)
The EE workshops are targeted at Employers or Heads of organisations, employees and trade unions, Assigned Senior EE Managers, Consultative EE forum members, Human Resource Managers and Practitioners, Academics, Civil society, and interested stakeholders.
NB: All the workshops will be held from 09:00 to 16:00 and members of the media are invited.
More information on the EE workshops, including updates on the venues to be used, will be available on department's and the CCMA's social media platform as well as the Department's website: www.labour.gov.za
For media inquiries, please contact:
Teboho Thejane
Departmental Spokesperson
082 697 0694/ teboho....@labour.gov.za
-ENDS-
Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour
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SAMWU condemns uMsunduzi Municipality for rushing to court instead of negotiating with striking uMsunduzi workers
Bongi Gule, SAMWU Mafika Mshengu Regional Secretary, 17 June 2026
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) in the Mafika Mshengu Region notes the judgment of the Labour Court dismissing uMsunduzi Local Municipality’s urgent application against workers who are engaged in a protected strike.
SAMWU welcomes this important outcome, which confirms what the Union has said from the beginning: the Municipality must stop using the courts as a substitute for meaningful engagement with workers. Instead of sitting around the table in good faith to resolve legitimate workplace grievances, the Municipality chose to rush to court in an attempt to interdict workers and undermine their constitutional right to strike.
The protected strike arises from long-standing and unresolved workplace grievances, including the failure to implement Task Grade 7 for General Assistants, the failure to review the municipal organogram, outdated job descriptions that do not reflect the work actually performed by employees, unresolved grading and regrading matters, lack of proper tools of trade, outstanding leave balance discrepancies, unfair disciplinary processes, lack of accountability against non-performing senior managers, the continued occupation of positions by unqualified managers, disregard for collective bargaining processes and the victimisation of shop stewards and union representatives.
This conduct is not only regrettable, it is a clear demonstration of bad faith. The Municipality approached the Labour Court while parties were still engaged in discussions aimed at resolving the dispute. SAMWU attended engagements in good faith, believing that all parties were committed to finding an amicable solution. It has now become clear that, while workers and their representatives were engaging, the Municipality had already chosen the route of litigation.
The Labour Court correctly exposed this conduct. The Court found that the Municipality approached the Court while negotiations were still underway and without warning to the Union. The Court further criticised the unreasonable and extremely truncated timeframes within which the Municipality brought the application, as well as the poor quality of its founding papers.
Of great importance is that the Court also found that the Municipality failed to provide evidence to support its allegations against workers. The attempt to create the impression that striking workers intended to disrupt the Comrades Marathon was not supported by credible evidence. SAMWU rejects this reckless attempt to criminalise workers and to portray them as a threat to public order when they are simply exercising their lawful and protected right to strike.
The Court further found that the Municipality had failed to follow the dispute-resolution procedures contained in the Labour Relations Act and the agreed picketing rules before approaching the Court. As a result, the application was struck off the roll for lack of jurisdiction, with the Municipality ordered to pay SAMWU’s legal costs.
This judgment is a serious embarrassment for uMsunduzi Local Municipality. It confirms that the Municipality acted hastily, irresponsibly and in bad faith. It also confirms that the Municipality would rather waste public funds on ill-conceived litigation than use those resources and energy to resolve the legitimate demands of workers.
The strike at uMsunduzi Local Municipality did not arise out of nowhere. Workers have raised genuine and long-standing workplace grievances, including the implementation of Task Grade 7 for General Assistants, a comprehensive review of the municipal organogram, the review of job descriptions to align them with the work actually performed by employees, grading and regrading of salaries, the provision of proper tools of trade, the resolution of leave balance discrepancies, fair disciplinary processes, accountability for non-performing senior managers, action against unqualified managers, respect for collective bargaining and an end to the victimisation of shop stewards and union representatives.
These are not unreasonable demands. They go to the heart of fairness, dignity, accountability and the proper functioning of the Municipality. Workers cannot be expected to carry the burden of service delivery while their own legitimate grievances are ignored. The Municipality cannot demand productivity from workers while refusing to provide the necessary tools, fair grading, proper remuneration, institutional support and a dignified working environment.
SAMWU is particularly concerned that the Municipality appears more willing to spend money on lawyers than to engage workers honestly. This is unacceptable. Public funds should not be wasted on court applications designed to silence workers. Those funds should be used to improve service delivery, address workplace injustices and ensure that municipal employees are treated with fairness and respect.
SAMWU further condemns any attempt by the Municipality to use major public events as a public relations shield while refusing to resolve the real issues affecting workers. Workers are not the enemies of service delivery. Workers are the backbone of service delivery. It is the Municipality’s failure to address legitimate workplace grievances that has brought matters to this point.
The Union remains committed to a peaceful, disciplined and protected strike. SAMWU members will continue to exercise their constitutional rights responsibly and within the law. We therefore reject any attempt to portray workers as criminals or as a threat to the public. The true threat to stability in uMsunduzi is a municipal leadership that refuses to negotiate honestly and instead chooses confrontation through the courts.
SAMWU calls on uMsunduzi Local Municipality to abandon its hostile and confrontational approach and return to the negotiating table with a genuine commitment to resolving the demands of workers. Litigation will not grade workers correctly. Litigation will not provide tools of trade. Litigation will not correct leave balances. Litigation will not end the victimisation of shop stewards. Litigation will not resolve the deep workplace grievances that workers have been raising.
Only genuine engagement, concrete commitments and binding solutions can bring this dispute to an end.
The responsibility for resolving the strike rests squarely with the leadership and management of uMsunduzi Local Municipality. Workers have made their demands clear. They want justice, fairness, proper grading, adequate resources, accountable management, respect for collective bargaining and an end to intimidation and victimisation.
SAMWU stands firmly with the workers of uMsunduzi Local Municipality. Their struggle is just, lawful and necessary. The Union will not be intimidated by court applications, threats or attempts to criminalise workers.
The Municipality must stop running to court and start negotiating with workers.
The strike continues until the workers’ demands are met.
Issued
by SAMWU Mafika Mshengu Region
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NEHAWU to convene its 13th National Congress
Lwazi Nkolonzi, NEHAWU National Spokesperson, June 08, 2026
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] will hold its 13th National Congress at the Birchwood Hotel & Conference Centre in Boksburg from the 26th to 29th of June 2026.
The congress is convened under the theme “Advance Workplace Organisation to Defend Collective Bargaining, Heighten Class Consciousness and Advance Internationalism".
The congress will serve as a critical platform to deliberate and develop concrete responses to key international, national political and socio-economic matters as well as organisational matters affecting our members and the working class in general.
The congress will receive addresses from the African National Congress [ANC], South African Communist Party [SACP], Congress of South African Trade Unions [COSATU], World Federation of Trade Unions [WFTU] and Trade Union International Public Service & Allied [TUI – PS&A].
The congress will be attended by more than 750 delegates drawn from all structures of the union and other fraternal organizations from South Africa and Internationally.
Members of the media are hereby invited to apply for accreditation to cover the 13th National Congress.
The following information should be included in the application: Full name, Media House, and contact details.
The deadline for accreditation applications is Friday 19th June 2026.
The application for accreditation should be sent to the following email: lwa...@nehawu.org.za
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat
For further information, please contact: Lwazi Nkolonzi (National Spokesperson) at 081 558 2335 or email: lwa...@nehawu.org.za
Visit NEHAWU website: www.nehawu.org.za
South Africa #ClassSolidarity
Organised Labour Statement on Migration and South Africa’s Economic Crisis
17 June 2026
Organised Labour at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC), comprising COSATU, FEDUSA, SAFTU and NACTU, has convened this media briefing to respond to the growing tensions around migration and illegal immigration in South Africa.
We recognise the deep frustration of millions of South Africans facing unemployment, poverty, inequality, crime and deteriorating public services. These are real and legitimate grievances. However, South Africa’s economic crisis was not created by migrants. It is rooted in economic stagnation, deindustrialisation, mass unemployment, corruption, austerity, weak governance and the failure to build an economy that serves the majority.
Migrants must not be made scapegoats for failures they did not create. Removing foreign nationals from workplaces, communities or public spaces will not reopen factories, repair municipalities, strengthen public healthcare or create sustainable jobs. The frustrations of local communities must be addressed by fixing the economy, creating decent work and rebuilding the state.
We are deeply concerned that the current surge in anti-migrant sentiment and mobilisation appears increasingly coordinated and politically orchestrated. Its purpose seems not only to divide the working class and redirect legitimate anger away from the real causes of poverty, unemployment, inequality and collapsing public services, but also to portray South Africa as a nation consumed by xenophobia and prone to barbaric acts of black-on-black violence in order to portray us in the most negative light in eyes of the international community.
Even more dangerously, they sow the seeds of tribalism, chauvinism and conflict among African people, threatening the unity that workers need in order to confront exploitation and fight collectively for jobs, decent living conditions and social justice. The working class must reject all attempts to divide it along national, ethnic or tribal lines and reaffirm the principle that an injury to one is an injury to all.
Organised Labour is unequivocally opposed to vigilantism. The enforcement of immigration, labour and criminal laws is the responsibility of the democratic state and its authorised institutions alone. No individual, organisation or self-appointed structure has the right to stop people in the streets, demand identity documents, raid workplaces, close businesses or prevent people from accessing public services.
While citizens have every right to march, petition government and demand effective immigration control, protest cannot become a licence for intimidation, unlawful detention, forced removals, ethnic profiling or violence.
South Africans have seen where this road leads, having lived through the deadly violence of 2008 and subsequent attacks on foreign nationals. We will not allow legitimate public anger to be manipulated into hatred and lawlessness. History has shown the devastating consequences of redirecting socioeconomic grievances against people based on their nationality or origin.
At the same time, Organised Labour is firmly opposed to the unlawful employment of undocumented migrants. Employers who knowingly hire vulnerable workers to pay lower wages, evade labour laws, avoid collective agreements and weaken collective bargaining are central to this crisis.
These employers exploit both South African and migrant workers and deliberately deepen divisions within the working class. They must be investigated, prosecuted and subjected to meaningful penalties. The law must focus not only on undocumented workers, but also on those who profit from their vulnerability.
Government must also accept responsibility for allowing the crisis to grow. Weak border management, inadequate labour inspection, failing Home Affairs systems, corruption and the underfunding of frontline institutions have contributed directly to public frustration.
Austerity has consequences. Government cannot weaken the Border Management Authority, the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Employment and Labour and other critical institutions, and then express surprise when systems fail, queues grow, enforcement collapses and communities lose confidence in the state.
We call for a capable, properly resourced and accountable state. This must include stronger labour inspection, effective border management, adequate staffing, reliable information technology systems and the digitisation and integration of migration and employment processes.
Technology must be used to reduce corruption, improve the processing of applications and strengthen enforcement. However, digital systems cannot replace the need for trained personnel and functional institutions.
Organised Labour also condemns all persons who solicit or accept bribes, facilitate illegal entry, issue fraudulent documentation or protect employers who violate the law. Such conduct fuels the crisis, undermines public trust and betrays the many honest public servants who continue to perform their duties under difficult conditions.
We support lawful and coordinated migration management, including the National Labour Migration Policy and stronger measures, including criminal prosecution, against employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers. The Employment Services legislation must provide a credible long-term framework for regulating the employment of foreign nationals and prosecuting employers who deliberately break the law. However, legislation will mean little without effective implementation and properly capacitated institutions.
Organised labour rejects all attempts to pit worker against worker. We therefore emphasise the urgent need for a coordinated regional and continental development programme to address the deep inequalities and uneven economic development that persist across Africa. Unless these structural disparities are tackled, migration from less developed countries to relatively more developed economies, such as South Africa, will continue. This pattern of migration, combined with high unemployment, poverty, inequality and inadequate public services, fuels the anti-migrant sentiments that have become increasingly prevalent in South Africa today.
The persistent failure of many African states to address unemployment, poverty and underdevelopment continues to drive large-scale migration in search of work and survival. In countries such as South Africa, employers often exploit these migratory patterns to access vulnerable labour, suppress wages, weaken collective bargaining and divide the workforce. The result is that workers are pitted against one another, worker solidarity is undermined, and the principles of internationalism that have historically strengthened the labour movement are weakened. The solution is not to blame migrant workers, who are themselves victims of economic hardship, but to address the structural conditions that force people to migrate and to build unity among workers across national borders in the common struggle against exploitation.
We therefore call on organised labour across Africa, Asia and beyond to hold their governments accountable for corruption, repression, unemployment, economic mismanagement and violations of human rights. Organised Labour must defend working-class solidarity while demanding that every government take responsibility for creating conditions in which its citizens can live, work and prosper safely in their own countries.
Workers everywhere share an interest in decent wages, safe workplaces, functioning public institutions, democratic governance and economies that serve the majority.
We also note calls for national action on 30 June. This action has not been called by the recognised labour federations and does not constitute a protected strike. Workers who stay away from work will not enjoy the protections afforded to participants in a protected strike.
We urge workers to report for duty and not place their employment at risk. Government must communicate this clearly and act decisively against intimidation, unlawful shutdowns, attacks on workers, violence and threats to critical infrastructure.
Organised Labour remains firmly committed to democracy, the rule of law, international solidarity and the unity of the working class. Migrants are not the cause of South Africa’s economic crisis. Exploitation, unemployment, corruption, economic failure and state incapacity are.
Issued by Organised Labour at NEDLAC
For interviews and enquiries:
Zanele Sabela
Cosatu Spokesperson
079 287 5788/077 600 6639
Betty Moleya
FEDUSA Media and Communications
063 736 5533
Newton Masuku
SAFTU National Spokesperson
066 168 2157
Lehlogonolo Digashu
NACTU
083 538 1270
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South Africa’s Organised Labour demand action on Unemployment Insurance and Compensation of Occupational Injuries and Diseases Funds
17 June 2026
South Africa’s Organised Labour federations – COSATU, FEDUSA, SAFTU and NACTU are deeply concerned about the worsening crisis at the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the Compensation of Occupational Injuries and Diseases Fund.
The two social security funds are entrusted with assisting workers in their time of need, but both are failing spectacularly at their mandate.
Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF)
Recent revelations by the SIU of fraudulent claims from the UIF Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) to the tune of R27 million during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate the depth of the crisis at the fund. The firms used ghost employees as the basis of their claims and were paid millions of Rands while legitimate claimants – employers on behalf of workers - remain unpaid to date for claims submitted during lockdown and the July 2021 WABU unrest. Organised Labour has been raising these concerns and failures for the past six years in both NEDLAC and other forums.
In addition, the long queues and inefficiencies the UIF is notorious for persist unabated. Young women speak of the indecency of trying to avoid exposing themselves while breastfeeding their newborns, all the while standing in snaking queues outside labour centres, waiting for their chance to apply for maternity benefits, only to be told the system is offline sometimes late in the afternoon when they finally reach the front of the queue. Having gone through that ordeal, the same young women return to work without having received a single red cent of their maternity benefits from UIF and their child is literally a toddler running around, and still the payment is not forthcoming. These are examples of young mothers who are not asking for favours but are legally entitled because they contributed.
Accessibility is a challenge as workers need to use public transport to reach a Labour Centre. Owing to their unemployment, they are forced to borrow taxi fare but often find they have to make multiple trips because the system at UIF is offline or they have to submit a document they weren’t aware was required.
The queues would be shorter and the need for multiple trips would cease if the UIF’s online portal worked optimally. In the past two years, uFiling has often been offline, sometimes for months, making it impossible for workers to submit their claims virtually and for employers to declare and pay contributions on behalf of their employees.
The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) last month refuted reports that the old uFiling portal was still live, and workers were still using it to submit claims. Unsurprisingly, the claims were not paid because the submissions were not valid even though the system issued reference numbers as proof of submission. Embarrassingly, the old portal is still live and is yet to be shut down.
UIF officials previously gave NEDLAC social partners assurances that the new uFilling would be working optimally by April of this year, yet this has still not happened. Some workers have reported attempting to submit claims via uFiling, only to discover that it is offline as early as 9 am. On visiting the nearest labour centres, they are subjected to long queues, and once again told that the system is offline.
Organised Labour and Business at NEDLAC have consistently called upon DEL to modernise and fix the UIF to ensure that it provides income support to workers when they are most vulnerable, to no avail. Instead, every year since 2020, the UIF and DEL make beautiful PowerPoint presentations at NEDLAC , promising to tackle the many challenges workers experience at the UIF. Glossy reports are submitted to Parliament claiming to have attained their targets, yet workers on the ground experience no improvement.
The South African Revenue Services and the Government Technical Advisory Centre and even Business previously offered to help fix the UIF’s systems at no cost; but in its wisdom DEL refused, opting to use outside suppliers. Still the system is operating at sub-optimal levels.
Another contentious issue is that of Labour Activation Programmes (LAP). Originally aimed at enhancing workers’ employability in particular contributors, enabling entrepreneurship, and safe-guarding jobs through TERS and the Business Turnaround and Recovery Programme, LAP is now being abused by corrupt elements at the fund
That said, we demand an immediate investigation into all LAP projects. Going forward, any LAP projects must be approved by contributors, both Organised Labour and Business because these are the only contributors to this fund. Government cannot take decisions in this regard because it does not contribute a single cent to UIF. Moreover, it is not only the UIF’s responsibility to address the joblessness in the country. It is the responsibility of DEL, Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, National Treasury and the Presidency working with other relevant entities.
Compensation Fund
Turning attention to the Compensation Fund (CF). Organised Labour welcomes and agrees with the Supreme Court’s ruling that the dire state of the fund necessitates an urgent and independent investigation. We are yet to be told when this judgement will be implemented.
Tasked with compensating workers for injuries, diseases and death while on duty, the CF is failing workers. By 2025, the fund had received disclaimer audit opinions for 12 consecutive years, according to the Auditor General. Historical audit failures continue to adversely impact the entity, as missing and incomplete documents render it impossible to fully account for public monies or verify the revenue it generates due to poor data and record management systems. We think this in not by accident but deliberate as weak systems enable corruption to take place.
The lack of consequence management is alarming, given repeated failures to address audit findings and governance shortcomings. CF reports revealed widespread fraudulent activities, with many allegations pointing to involvement of officials in wrongdoing. Disturbingly, it appears no attempt has been made to hold the culprits accountable.
Particularly worrying is the lack of capacity within the CF as critical management and technical positions remain vacant or occupied in an acting capacity indefinitely as is within the UIF. Key vacancies in audit coordination, financial misconduct investigations, ICT assurance and data governance continue to undermine the entity’s ability to function effectively. Skilled managers are reportedly leaving due to salary concerns and deteriorating working conditions, further weakening the fund’s capacity.
Sadly, workers pay the hard price for these failures through long delays in the processing and payment of claims. Thousands of injured workers are forced to wait for benefits because of administrative failures, rejected payments and system inefficiencies linked to outdated and vulnerable IT infrastructure. The Fund’s systems are reportedly often offline at Labour Centres and on digital platforms, creating long queues, frustration and hardship for workers seeking assistance.
Conclusion
The crises in these funds cannot be sanitised any longer while workers are not receiving their income relief on time, if at all, whilst the high cost of living continues to rise.
Organised Labour demands that CF and the UIF should be empowered with the authority to make real changes and improvements and not be merely advisory as they are currently. Additionally, the long overdue amendments to the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) must be expedited to strengthen governance, accountability and oversight.
Organised Labour supports calls for the UIF and CF to be overhauled and cleansed, with competent management appointed and modern systems put in place. However, we reject the unbundling of these social security funds from DEL.
We demand that all key position be filled and competent management be appointed to ensure that these funds are capacitated enough to carry out their legal mandates.
COSATU, FEDUSA, SAFTU and NACTU call on President Cyril Ramaphosa to put these social security funds under administration or new management with certain conditionalities and deploy both the Hawks and SIU to investigate allegations of systemic and serious corruption at the UIF and CF. Piecemeal proclamations are not enough. A comprehensive approach is needed to deal with these allegations once and for all.
These social securities are not a slush fund for corruption politicians, officials and businessmen but income replacement for workers when in need. Organised Labour believes it is time to put both social security funds under administration with conditionalities – this must include that the administrator or new management works closely with Organised Labour and Business.
This is a burning crisis that can no longer continue to be ignored, and its resolution deferred. Should our demands not be agreed to and acted upon, we reserve our right to take legal action.
Issued by Organised Labour at NEDLAC
For interviews and enquiries:
Zanele Sabela
Cosatu Spokesperson
079 287 5788/077 600 6639
Betty Moleya
FEDUSA Media and Communications
063 736 5533
Newton Masuku
SAFTU National Spokesperson
066 168 2157
Lehlogonolo Digashu
NACTU
083 538 1270
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Home
Affairs and Constitutional Development establish priority court in Durban
16 Jun 2026
Department of Home Affairs and Department of Justice and Constitutional Development establish priority court in Durban to support immigration enforcement
The Department of Home Affairs, in collaboration with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, has established a priority court to process immigration matters involving Malawian nationals currently residing at Sherwood Park in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
Following a comprehensive verification exercise, 1,876 Malawian nationals have been confirmed to be residing in the Republic in contravention of South Africa's immigration laws. The verified contraventions include visa overstays, expired travel documents and
undocumented status, all of which constitute grounds for deportation in terms of the Immigration Act, 2002.
The priority court will operate through a virtual platform at Sherwood Park under the authority of the Durban Magistrate's Court to facilitate the consideration and confirmation of deportation orders in respect of affected individuals.
The Government of Malawi has facilitated the return of 676 of its nationals as of 15 June 2026. While voluntary repatriation efforts remain ongoing, the pace of departures has necessitated the implementation of formal deportation processes to ensure the lawful
and orderly enforcement of South Africa's immigration laws.
Particular attention continues to be given to vulnerable groups, including women and children, through coordinated humanitarian support measures. The Department of Home Affairs will facilitate transport arrangements for individuals subject to deportation orders.
This process is distinct from the voluntary repatriation programme previously undertaken in cooperation with the Government of Malawi.
The Department is committed to ensuring that all processes are conducted lawfully, fairly and in accordance with the Constitution. The rights of affected individuals, including the right to procedural fairness and access to legal representation, will be upheld
throughout the process. Through the fair and consistent enforcement of South Africa's immigration laws, the Department will continue to uphold the rule of law and safeguard the integrity of the country's immigration system.
Media Enquiries:
Thulani Mavuso – Spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs and Deputy Director-General for Operations Cell: 082 330 1404
Issued by Department of Home Affairs
International-Solidarity
Presidency cautions against spread of misinformation about South Africa’s migration challenges
15 Jun 2026
The Presidency deeply regrets the tragic loss of life in these recent incidents, as one life lost is simply one too many. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and communities affected.
To clarify the facts surrounding these events, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation will engage the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure that the information before them is both accurate and reliable. The engagements will outline in
detail how this complex matter is being addressed by the South African government.
Most notably, the WHO's characterization of the deaths of the Ethiopian nationals is, unfortunately, incorrect. The events that led to the deaths of these Ethiopian nationals fall within the realm of organized crime, as has already been publicly reported, and
are being actively investigated by law enforcement agencies.
With regard to the Mozambican nationals, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has stated that this matter is also currently under active investigation.
President Ramaphosa and the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration have been unequivocal in their stance: only duly authorized law enforcement officials have the mandate to enforce the law.
Media inquiries:
Vincent Magwenya
Spokesperson to the President
E-mail: me...@presidency.gov.za
Issued by The Presidency
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From Geneva to the World: South Africa’s Unstoppable Rise in Shaping the Future of Work
14 June 2026
South Africa has once again stepped onto the global stage not merely as a participant, but as a force of transformation. At the 114th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), the country's tripartite delegation delivered a masterclass in leadership, unity, and purpose, leaving an indelible mark on the future of work worldwide. At the same time, South Africa secured the honour of hosting the prestigious ARLAC Governing Council meeting in early 2027, an achievement that signals global confidence in the country's leadership.
Led by Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth and Acting Director-General Jacky Molisane, the delegation embodied the power of collaboration between government, business, and labour. Acting as one voice, they didn't merely attend, they led, influenced, and reshaped outcomes across three historic pillars that will resonate for generations.
In a world increasingly driven by digital platforms, South Africa stood at the forefront of change. The delegation played a decisive role in advancing a groundbreaking new international convention on decent work in the platform economy, an achievement set to transform the lives of millions of gig and digital workers worldwide.
Championed by a formidable team, Adv. Morajane and Mr. Rathai (government), Ms. de Villiers (BUSA), and Ms. Modise (FEDUSA), South Africa pushed for binding protections where none existed before. Their bold leadership turned policy debate into tangible progress, ensuring the emerging global standard reflects fairness, dignity, and the true spirit of tripartite cooperation.
At the heart of the ILO lies one defining principle: social dialogue. And here, South Africa didn't just participate, it led from the front.
Mr. Ndebele (Chairperson) and Ms. Ramabulana (government), alongside Ms. Martin (BUSA) and Ms. Adam (FEDUSA), played a critical role as drafting members in the Social Dialogue Committee. Their work reaffirmed a powerful truth: sustainable progress is impossible without inclusive, effective collaboration between workers, employers, and government.
Through their stewardship, social dialogue was reinforced not just as a tool, but as the backbone of the ILO's global system.
In a defining moment of inspiration, an all-women South African team commanded the Gender Equality Committee with confidence, authority, and vision.
Dr. Mamashela and Ms. Petersen (government), Ms. Losi and Ms. Mtsweni (COSATU), and Ms. Jantjies (BUSA) drove the agenda forward, placing gender justice at the centre of global labour discussions. Their efforts ensured that issues such as equal pay, freedom from violence and harassment, and women's rights were not sidelined, but firmly embedded in the global labour framework.
Their leadership sent a powerful message: the future of work cannot be built without women at the helm.
In the high-stakes Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS), the ILO's most authoritative compliance body, South Africa once again demonstrated excellence.
Represented by Mr. Ndebele and Mr. Moyane, the country contributed with legal precision, diplomatic insight, and unwavering integrity. Their work ensured fairness and accountability across member states, reinforcing trust in the ILO's supervisory system.
In a remarkable moment, when South Africa presented its own report, it received resounding support, an extraordinary endorsement of the nation's transparency, compliance, and commitment to international labour standards.
Minister Meth extended South Africa's influence beyond formal proceedings, engaging in high-level bilateral discussions to strengthen cooperation and share best practices. She chaired the ARLAC Governing Council with distinction and contributed to milestone global commemorations, including the centenary of the Committee on Freedom of Association and the International Day Against Child Labour.
Each engagement reinforced South Africa's standing as a respected, credible, and proactive voice on the world stage.
In a defining moment of recognition, Acting Director-General Jacky Molisane accepted the symbolic baton on behalf of South Africa, confirming the country as host of the ARLAC Governing Council meeting in the first quarter of 2027.
This is more than a ceremonial handover. It is a powerful affirmation of South Africa's leadership in shaping Africa's labour future, and an opportunity to showcase its world-class tripartite model on home soil.
No success of this magnitude happens by chance. Behind the scenes, Mr. Hadebe ensured strategic alignment across key committees, while Mr. Letoaba, Labour Attaché in Geneva, impeccably managed logistics, quietly enabling a seamless, multi-front triumph.
As Minister Meth powerfully stated:
“South Africa's participation in this Conference is not about presence, it is about purpose. When we lead, we demonstrate that social dialogue works. That is the South African way. That is the ILO's DNA. And that is why our voice matters."
In a world grappling with inequality, digital disruption, and persistent gender gaps, South Africa has shown that unity is strength, and dialogue is power.
From shaping the future of platform work, to elevating gender equality, to reinforcing global labour standards, this delegation has done more than succeed, it has inspired.
The impact of Geneva will not fade. It will echo, through national policy, regional collaboration, and a more just, inclusive world of work.
South Africa did not just take part. South Africa led. And the world took notice, said Minister Meth.
ENDS//
Media enquiries:
Ms. Thobeka Magcai, Ministry Spokesperson. Email: Thobeka...@Labour.gov.za 072 737 2205.
Issued by: MINISTRY OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR
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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