Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 15 October 2025 #Cosatu@40 #Cosatu40thAnniversary
Norman Mampane
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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 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
15 October 2025
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- COSATU to host lectures in the lead up to 40th anniversary
- South Africa
- NEHAWU calls on the GEPF to thoroughly clarify the implementation of revised actual interest factors
- Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko devastated following another big fatal road crash in Limpopo
- SACP condemns destruction of property during University of Fort Hare students' protests, calls for addressing of genuine concerns raised by students
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Ukrainian unions: workers can’t bear full safety burden
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
COSATU to host lectures in the lead up to 40th 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 40th 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 40th 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:
Mpumalanga
Date:
16 October
Venue: Ikhethelo Secondary School, Bethal
Topic: Gert Sibande Potato Boycott
Main Speaker: Duncan Luvuno, COSATU 2nd Deputy President
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
NEHAWU calls on the GEPF to thoroughly clarify the implementation of revised actual interest factors
Zola Saphetha, NEHAWU General Secretary, October 15, 2025
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] calls on the Government Employees Pension Fund [GEPF] to thoroughly clarify the implementation of revised actual interest factors.
As NEHAWU, we have been inundated with queries from members and workers about the drastic changes they have noted on the pension fund statements after the GEPF had implemented these revised actual interest factors without an extensive consultation with the real owners of GEPF.
The implementation of the revised actual interest factors has caused panic and anxiety amongst our members and workers generally in the Public Service in relation to their pensions. The importance of a pension fund can never at any given moment be understated in creating social security for our members and workers.
The union calls on the GEPF to be ethical, truthful and maintain good governance practices, not misrepresent or withhold information to which workers are entitled to as the owners of the pension fund. Workers deserve to know all the information relating to their hard earned pension funds.
We note the assertion by the GEPF that the matter was presented at the PSCBC, however as NEHAWU, we want to categorically state that we were not party to any agreement at the council and would never agree to anything that tempers with the pensions of our members and workers without them. So, as a mandate driven union, we take mandate from members.
As NEHAWU, we remain unwavering and consistent in rejecting anything that will erode the value of workers’ pension funds.
The union has requested a council meeting at the PSCBC on the matter so that GEPF clarify what is in the public domain.
Lastly, we reiterate our call for GEPF to provide a clear explanation on the implementation of revised actual interest factors.
END
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat.
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Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko devastated following another big fatal road crash in Limpopo
13 Oct 2025
Transport
Minister Ms. Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mr. Mkhuleko Hlengwa are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of 42 lives and 49 injured passengers in a devastating road accident that occurred on Sunday 12 October 2025 at approximately 18:00 on the N1 North
near Ingwe Lodge, Limpopo.
Consequently, they have expressed their heartfelt felt condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to the passengers who were injured The crash involve d a bus that was travelling from Johannesburg to Zimbabwe that overturned and went
down on an embankment. The following casualties were reported from the scene:
42 fatalities, consisting of:
7 children,
17 adult males and
18 adult females
There were 49 injured persons, consisting of:
6 critically injured,
31 seriously injured and
12 slightly injured occupants.
The injured persons transported to Louis Trichardt , Siloam and Elim hospitals. 1x critically injured child was air lifted to Tshilidzini hospital. The cause of the crash is unknown at this stage. The RTMC together with the local law enforcement authorities
are conducting a full scene reconstruction and mechanical investigation of the vehicle. A preliminary report will be concluded in due course.
Both Minister Creecy and Deputy Minister Hlengwa have expressed their concern regarding the persistent trend of road crashes involving public transport. They have emphasized that the current review of the National Road Safety Strategy will strengthen efforts
in promoting road safety in both the scholar transport and public transport system.
Minister Creecy is set to visit a crash scene and those in hospitals at midday today (13 October 2025), at 13h30. The visit is open to media.
Media Contact:
Collen Msibi
National Spokesperson
Cell: 066 476 9015
Issued by Department of Transport
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SACP condemns destruction of property during University of Fort Hare students' protests, calls for addressing of genuine concerns raised by students
Mbulelo Mandlana, SACP Head of Media, Communications and Information, 14 October 2025
The South African Communist Party (SACP) unequivocally condemns the destruction of property at the University of Fort Hare Dikeni campus, formerly known as Alice, during students’ protests last week. Students have the responsibility to protect the learning institutions against destruction and to isolate the fringe elements. The full extent of the law must apply to hold accountable all those who were responsible for the destruction of public property.
The infiltration or capture of learning institutions through certain sections of councils, student bodies, management and academics by extortion mafias, smash-and-grab entrepreneurs and mainstream capitalist private companies must also be investigated, in addition to the previous Special Investigation Unit proclamation. This infiltration has unfolded against the background of neo-liberal restructuring, which resulted in the outsourcing, privatisation and tenderisation of functions once performed by full-time non-academic support staff and by the universities themselves.
The conversion of learning institutions into fields of capitalist wealth accumulation through neo-liberal restructuring must not be excluded from the focus of the investigation. It is a key factor that has caused major problems at the university and is more likely behind the wanton destruction whose roots are more possibly anchored in the private competition and rivalry it has engendered.
During the protests, six of the institution’s buildings were set alight, some of which housed crucial artefacts and documents, including examination question papers and unfinalised research papers. Other campus buildings which were torched included the main administrative and student affairs offices at its main Dikeni campus.
A Unesco World Heritage site, Fort Hare University is one of South Africa’s most historic higher education institutions in which many African anti-colonial and anti-apartheid struggle icons, including our very own Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo, studied. It is imperative that all progressive voices in our country should rise up for the preservation of our historical education centre while at the same time dealing with any valid concerns raised by the students and ensuring that the students do not lose out on educational opportunities moving forward.
The SACP also calls for the urgent addressing of the genuine concerns raised by the students and accountability measures for those involved in the carnage.
The SACP recognises and respects the students’ right to peaceful protests in demand for their rights. We also recognise the need for students’ demands to be amicably resolved without damaging the future of both the institution and students, both present and future.
In the same vein, the SACP condemns the capture of the university by capitalist forces, both those who accumulate through legitimised methods on the back of outsourcing and privatisation, which occurred as a result of neo-liberal restructuring, and those who accumulate via criminal, smash-and-grab capture of tenders or contracts and individuals in governance, management and student population structures. These issues must be openly discussed and a lasting solution found with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders.
Accordingly, over and above, the SACP calls upon the University of Fort Hare Council to earnestly resolve the issues raised by the students, and to do so in a transparent manner. Some of the matters that must be attended to include, but are not limited to, the state of governance and leadership at the institution, the role and status of the Student Representative Council, institutional culture of the university, concerns about the vice-chancellor’s contract, and the demand for the insourcing of workers.
ISSUED
BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY
FOUNDED IN 1921 AS THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SOUTH AFRICA.
Media, Communications & Information Department | MCID
International-Solidarity
Ukrainian unions: workers can’t bear full safety burden
14 October, 2025
Ukrainian workers continue to show extraordinary resilience, keeping key sectors, of the country’s economy, running under full-scale occupation and invasion. Despite constant danger, destroyed workplaces and scarce resources mining, nuclear and manufacturing workers keep the economy alive. At the same time, a wave of worker-hostile legislation is advancing and social dialogue has stalled.
Against this backdrop, IndustriALL Global Union and industriAll European Trade Union held a joint meeting on 14 October 2025, bringing together Ukrainian affiliated unions, government officials, International Labour Organization, Ukrainian members of Parliament, European Union, employer representatives and safety experts to discuss wartime working conditions and legislative changes, including Ukrainian Draft Law No. 10147 “On the safety and health of workers at work.”
Mykhailo Volynets, chair of the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine (NPGU) and national centre KVPU (KVPU) and Valeriy Matov, chair of nuclear workers’ union Atomprofspilka, said martial law has curtailed collective bargaining, extended working hours
and restricted strikes. They warned that the draft law would shift safety responsibility from employers to workers, impose a 25 per cent threshold for union representation (at plant level) and erode protection when people are already working under bombardment
and stress.
“While the invasion continues to devastate lives, Ukrainian workers put all the efforts in mines, energy plants and production facilities to keep the country running. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the workers of Ukraine. For occupational health and safety (OHS) workers have rights and employers have duties. Any law that pushes risks onto workers cannot be accepted as it would violate fundamental workers’ rights,” said Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary.
The specialist from ILO’s workers’ bureau ACTRAV, Gocha Aleksandria, reminded participants that occupational health and safety is a fundamental right at work, recognized in the 2022 International Labour Conference. “No worker or workplace should be left unprotected,”
he said, calling for prevention, participation and dialogue to guide reform.
From the European Commission, Jan-Willem Ebeling, explained that the EU framework directive clearly makes employers responsible for preventing risks, providing training and consulting workers. The directive sets minimum standards that cannot reduce existing
protection and relies on tripartite cooperation and strong labour inspection.
Elena Crasta, senior advisor at the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), said reforms must comply with EU law and include real consultation. “ETUC has already raised concerns with the European Commission,” she said. “The government must honour its commitments
to social dialogue and EU alignment or risk setbacks to integration.”
Union representatives shared the harsh realities of working in wartime. Dmytro Zelenyi from NPGU miners’ union described flooded, bomb-damaged shafts where people still work. Valeriy Matov said nuclear workers face life-threatening conditions with limited funding.
Karina Plakhova, of the Trade Union of Aircraft and Machine Building Workers, warned that enterprise relocations create new hazards and limit union oversight. Bohdan Overkovsky, chair of the Metallurgists and Miners’ Union, said unions continue inspections
and support despite destroyed infrastructure.
Representing employers, Oleksandr Turov, head of trade union relations at DTEK, a major Ukrainian energy company and one of the country’s largest private-sector employers, said constructive relations with unions are vital for stability and safety but cautioned
that any legal change “must be agreed between employers and unions.”
The Ukrainian unions have analysed the Draft Law No. 10147 ‘On the safety and health of workers at work’, and have appealed to the ILO, EU and Ukranian Parliament for intervention. 14 unions united to present a common position.
Commenting on this show of unity, Isabelle Barthès, industriAll Europe deputy general secretary declared:
“We stand in full solidarity with Ukrainian workers. Health and safety is a trade-union priority: prevention and employer accountability are non-negotiable, social partners must be involved. This is why we will ensure that your voices are heard by the EU institutions and will continue to advocate for alignment with EU standards.”
A joint statement by 14 Ukrainian trade unions-affiliated to IndustriALL and industriAll Europe-presented by Yarema Zhugaevich chair of the Aircraft builders’ union, calls on the Verkhovna Rada to reject draft law No. 10147 in its current form, involve unions,
the ILO and EU experts in revisions and ensure compliance with international standards. It warns that adopting the bill would undermine social dialogue, lower safety standards and jeopardise Ukraine’s EU accession.
“This last blow fits a broader pattern of chipping away at collective rights. Your unity is your strength and our mandate. IndustriALL will deliver this message directly to parliamentarians and institutions.”
Özkan concluded.
IndustriALL Global Union and industriAll Europe call on the Ukrainian government to uphold the international standards for occupational health and safety, restore the quality of social dialogue and prevent any rollback of worker protection. Ukrainian workers
have kept the country’s industries alive through war and they must not now be made to carry employers’ legal duties for safety.
______________________________
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