Taking COSATU Today Forward, 17 October 2025 #Cosatu@40 #Cosatu40thAnniversary

[Norman Mampane]

 

COSATU TODAY #Cosatu scheduled to hold its 40th Anniversary at Dobsonville, Soweto on December 6 #Cosatu@40 #Cosatu40thAnniversary #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

17 October 2025

“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”

Organize at every workplace and demand respect for labour rights Now!

Defend Jobs Now!

Join COSATU NOW!

 

Contents                      

• Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!

• SADTU KwaZulu-Natal condemns exclusion of special schools from basic allocations

• COSATU to host lectures in the lead up to 40^th anniversary

• South Africa
• COSATU welcomes designation of 79 Sexual Offences Courts by government
• Minister Buti Manamela monitors situation at University of the Free State
• International-Workers’ Solidarity!
• Artificial Intelligence: Workers’ unions must shape deployment and regulation

Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics  

 

COSATU to host lectures in the lead up to 40^th anniversary

Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 25 September 2025

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is set the host a series of lectures in the lead up to its 40^th anniversary celebration at Dobsonville Stadium on 6 December.

 

The culmination of four years of unity talks, COSATU came into being on 1 December 1985, and brought together 33 competing unions and federations opposed to apartheid and whose common goal was to bring about a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society.

 

The Federation has been at the forefront of advancing, defending and protecting the interests and rights of workers since, and has led in the formation of the country’s progressive labour laws including workers’ rights to form trade unions, collective bargaining and to strike, minimum conditions of service, National Minimum Wage, etc.

 

From its vehement resistance of apartheid to the ushering in of the democratic dispensation and improving the economic and social wellbeing of the working class 31 years post democracy, COSATU has stood the test of time.

 

In the lead up to its 40^th anniversary in December, the Federation will host a variety of activities starting with a series of lectures by its National Office Bearers.

 

The lectures will tackle diverse subjects from COSATU’s pivotal role in gender struggles to the strike that broke the back of industry-wide exploitative labour practices as far back as 1959.  

 

Province: Northern Cape
Date: 30 October   

Topic: COSATU and the Liberation Movement

Main Speaker: Solly Phetoe, COSATU General Secretary

Province: North-West
Date: 19 November

Topic: Strengthening Industrial Unions to build a militant COSATU        

Main Speaker: Duncan Luvuno, COSATU 2nd Deputy President

Province: Eastern Cape
Date: 20 November

Topic: COSATU and the Reconfiguration of the Alliance      

Main Speaker: Mike Shingange, COSATU 1st Deputy President

Province: Gauteng
Date: 21 November

Topic: COSATU and the Mass Democratic Movement 

Main Speaker: Zingiswa Losi, COSATU President 

 

Issued by COSATU

South Africa

COSATU welcomes designation of 79 Sexual Offences Courts by government

Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 17 October 2025

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) welcomes the designation by the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development, Ms. M. Kubayi, of 79 Regional Divisions across the 9 provinces for the establishment of Sexual Offences Courts. 

This is a progressive intervention by the African National Congress led government to ensure the full implementation of the 2021 overhauling of our sexual offences legislation and a major step forward in the struggle against gender-based violence, sexual harassment and femicide. 

This will bring positive comfort to millions of girls and boys, women, the elderly, people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ and other vulnerable persons who have been the victims of this cancer of abuse and violence.  It will allow for the development of specialised magistrates and prosecutors to boost woefully low prosecution and conviction rates as well as sentencing periods.

Whilst welcoming this long overdue step forward, it is critical that Treasury ensure the courts are adequately resourced to enable its meaningful implementation.  It is not enough to designate and put up a sign.

Specific courts must be allocated with holding rooms and separate benches where the victims and survivors of sexual offences will not be forced to sit next to or within close proximity of the perpetrators and thus exposed to further trauma and intimidation.

Court staff, police officers, social workers and other critical personnel must be well trained and resourced to ensure the full implementation of this important decision and to ensure that the rights of victims and survivors are respected at all times.

COSATU will be seeking further engagements with the Ministers for Justice and Constitutional Development as well as Finance on timeframes, budgetary allocations and training to ensure the rapid implementation of this bold decision.

Issued by COSATU

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Minister Buti Manamela monitors situation at University of the Free State

14 Oct 2025

The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Buti Manamela, is actively engaging with the leadership and stakeholders at the University of the Free State (UFS) following ongoing student protests. The situation escalated yesterday, resulting in a serious incident in which several security officials sustained severe injuries.

The Minister has been briefed on the university’s decision to temporarily close the institution until stability is restored. The gravity of the situation necessitates that the safety and security of all students, staff, and property be prioritised.

“The violence that led to serious injuries is deeply regrettable and completely unacceptable. Our thoughts are with the injured officials and their families, and we wish them a full and speedy recovery. While we recognise the right to protest, it must remain peaceful and within the prescripts of the law. The destruction of infrastructure and violence against persons and property only serve to undermine legitimate concerns and jeopardise the academic future of all students,” said Minister Manamela.

Minister Manamela remains in direct and ongoing contact with the Vice-Chancellor of UFS. A key focus for the Minister is the preservation of the 2025 academic year. He has directed the Department to work closely with the university to develop contingency plans that will minimise academic disruption and ensure that no student is unfairly prejudiced by the temporary closure.

The Minister calls on all student leaders, members of the university community, and all concerned parties to choose the path of constructive engagement over destruction.

Enquiries: 
Matshepo Seedat 
Cell: 082 679 9473

Issued by Department of Higher Education and Training

International-Solidarity   

Artificial Intelligence: Workers’ unions must shape deployment and regulation

17 October 2025

The ITUC has released a new report on the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on working people, with a clear call for trade unions to be fully involved in shaping how AI is deployed and regulated.

The report, Artificial Intelligence: What are the implications for trade unions?, brings together research on the effects of AI deployment on job quality and fundamental labour rights. It also explores wider societal challenges related to AI, including its influence on public service delivery, social protection, the environment and development.

It warns of the risks posed by unregulated AI and algorithmic management and outlines the essential role of trade unions in ensuring a just digital transition.

Key insights from the report include:

AI systems are accelerating job fragmentation and intensificationAlgorithmic systems are increasingly used to manage work schedules, pay and even dismissals, often lacking transparency or accountability.

These systems are frequently deployed without consulting workers, undermining labour rights, increasing psychosocial risks and eroding privacy.

Although often promoted as drivers of efficiency, evidence shows that such technologies are far from perfect and productivity gains are frequently overstated.

AI is reinforcing labour market inequalities, with low-skilled and women workers more exposed to the risks of automation.

The development and use of AI are creating poorly paid, precarious and intensive working conditions for workers, especially in the global south, who work on these technologies.

Trade unions in action

Trade unions are already responding. Examples cited in the ITUC report include collective agreements in Europe with Just Eat/Takeaway, sectoral standards from the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan (FPRK) in Kazakhstan and organising initiatives like African Tech Workers Rising.

The report also key developments in AI regulation, while calling for stronger enforcement of labour and anti-discrimination laws and union rights in the digital era.

Luc Triangle, ITUC General Secretary, stressed: “The rapid development and deployment of AI must be accompanied by sufficient regulation, with workers included in this process. The ITUC demands that all governments, employers and international institutions ensure that workers and their unions play a central role in shaping the AI-driven future of work. By ensuring that trade unions can actively engage in the digital transformation, we can create a just future of work.”

______________________________

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

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