Taking COSATU Today Forward, 7 April 2026 #CosatuMayDay2026
Norman Mampane
|
COSATU TODAY COSATU Call Center Contacts: 010 002 2590 #COSATU National May Day will be celebrated at Polokwane, Limpopo on May 1 #ClassWar #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
7 April 2026
“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!
- Employment and Labour Deputy Minister Jomo Sibiya urges strict compliance with South African labour laws – as Chinese business
- South Africa
- COSATU strongly condemns Treasury's tone-deaf decision to increase Cabinet Members and MECs' car limits to R1.1 million
- SACP welcomes fuel tax relief as positive step towards alleviating the negative impact of the international energy crisis caused by US-Israeli wars
- Electoral Commission unveils new logo
- Police suspends Captain for defrauding SAPS PSS of millions
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Yaoundé’s thin harvest: WTO ministers meeting delivers little gains for Africa
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
Employment and Labour Deputy Minister Jomo Sibiya urges strict compliance with South African labour laws – as Chinese business
31 March 2026
Employment and Labour Deputy Minister, Jomo Sibiya today (31 March 2026) told an advocacy session aimed at raising awareness of South African Labour Laws to Chinese businesses, that “where non-compliance is persistent, there must be consequences".
“Failure to comply with labour laws undermines worker dignity, fair competition, and economic stability. Fair and equitable wages, working hours, leave periods and fair working conditions in general must be adhered to. Furthermore, it should be an anomaly to have workers who get injured in the course of work, contract diseases or worse, lose their lives.
“We remain optimistic that there will be full compliance to our employment and labour laws. After all, where there is a will, there is always a way. This event comes at the heels of a similar intervention that was held in Newcastle earlier this month. I must say that these gatherings are a silver lining in the dark cloud of noncompliance," he said.
Sibiya was speaking during an advocacy meeting with Chinese business owners, especially those in retail and wholesale sector in an initiative to ensure labour law compliance. The advocacy was held in Johannesburg, Main Reef Road, Amalgam.
The session was attended by Department's senior officials, China Mall management, Chinese businesses and officials of the Chinese Diplomatic Corps.
Sibiya said the genesis of today's session started last December (2025) when the Department officially met with the Chinese Diplomatic Service in Pretoria and shared its concerns about the flagrant non-compliance with South African employment and labour laws by Chinese businesses in South Africa.
The Deputy Minister said the session was long overdue. He said it was necessitated by serious and unacceptable working conditions that workers are subjected to and have had to endure in Chinese workplaces. He said a case in point would be the textile factories in the Mandeni and Newcastle area – where he said he had a first-hand experience of the plight of workers in those areas.
“What is happening in Newcastle is not something we want to see across the country. The dignity of our people is trampled. We would rather not have investment if our people are trampled," he said the Department is encouraged by the change in attitude, “the message is - let us desist from employing illegal and undocumented foreigners. Don't be an enabler of illegality".
He said the Department does not want to be a problem to anyone.
Reflecting on the September 2025 Gauteng High Court sentencing of seven Chinese nationals in a human trafficking and child labour case, Sibiya said this was a “game changer" in strengthening labour law enforcement, “we do not want a repeat of the ironic story of Beautiful City".
The Department's advocacy session coincided with what the Chinese termed: “Publicity Week on Lawful and Compliant Operations".
In a circular circulated during the session the Chinese committed to:
- Comply with South African immigration laws, regulations; promote the lawful employment and local workers and avoid employing illegal immigrants
- Comply with South African laws and regulations protecting labour rights, sign formal labour contracts with employees, establish and implement lawful and reasonable remuneration systems, and pay employees' COIDA and UIF contributions on time;
- Comply with South African government regulations on occupational health and safety to ensure a healthy and safe working environment;
- Resolve labour disputes through legal channels and by legal means;
- Comply with South African laws and regulations on product and food safety, ensuring that goods and food products meet applicable health and safety standards;
- Comply with South African laws and regulations on company registration; report company financial information truthfully as required and pay taxes in accordance with the law;
- Do not engage in or participate in any activity that violates South African laws, tax regulations, or safety rules;
-
Pay
attention to personal and property, fire, water, electricity safety and etc.
Johannesburg China Mall Chairman, Xu Changbin said the Chinese business were mindful of their responsibility as espoused in commitments made as part of Week on Lawful and Compliant Operations. Chungbin said compliance is not only a requirement, but the cornerstone for sustainable development.
The Chinese business owners have come under the radar of the Department in recent years for non-compliance. The Department's Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) has found that the Chinese businesses are guilty of employing undocumented foreign nationals, engaging in child labour, paying at rates below the National Minimum Wage, failing to provide workers with employment contracts, failing to register for social security with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the Compensation Fund for occupational injuries and diseases, and housing and keeping workers under high walls and locked gates and making worker work in unsafe or unsuitable conditions - among a litany of non-compliances.
Today's engagement was also accompanied by presentations by the Department's Inspection and Enforcement Services; the Commission for Conciliation Mediation (CCMA) and the Public Employment Services (PES) branch.
For
media enquiries, please contact:
Teboho Thejane
Departmental Spokesperson
082 697
0694/ teboho....@labour.gov.za
-ENDS-
Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour
South Africa #ClassSolidarity
COSATU strongly condemns Treasury's tone-deaf decision to increase Cabinet Members and MECs' car limits to R1.1 million
Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 02 April 2026
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) strongly condemns Treasury’s tone-deaf decision to increase Members of Cabinet and Provincial Executive Committees’ car purchase limits from R800 000 to R1.1 million.
This is an unbelievable affront to the working class and society who have been told by the very same Treasury time and again to tighten their belts. It is beyond shocking that this reckless decision comes from the same Treasury which has cried poverty, attempted to increase VAT and refused to adjust tax brackets for low- and middle-income workers for inflation for two years.
Most galling is the fact that Treasury gushes sympathy for politicians wanting to travel in comfort but has only once adjusted the tiny R370 SRD Grant for inflation since its introduction in 2020. This callous decision by Treasury highlights a budget priority and morality crisis afflicting the state, where R4 billion is allocated to provide bodyguards for politicians but only R3 billion can be found for Small Business Development.
COSATU calls upon President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene and reverse this ill-considered decision by Treasury. Government cannot continue to impose brutal austerity budget cuts crippling frontline public services and yet find millions to indulge the appetites of out of touch public representatives.
The Federation calls upon government to end the charade of politicians splashing scarce public funds upon unnecessary luxury vehicles by allocating this responsibility to the Government Garage. This must include uniform and modest specifications for all such vehicles and that they must be locally manufactured.
Government has serious matters to attend to and should not be spending time on such frivolous issues. The working class and society whose taxes fund the state, expect better from the leaders they elect and entrust to manage public funds. This rash act by Treasury must be immediately cancelled.
Politicians would be well advised to remember that local government elections are months away and voters are not impressed by such shenanigans.
Issued by COSATU
________________________
SACP welcomes fuel tax relief as positive step towards alleviating the negative impact of the international energy crisis caused by US-Israeli wars
Mbulelo Mandlana, SACP Head of Media, Communications and Information, 1 April 2026
The South African Communist Party (SACP) notes the announcement of a tax relief on the fuel as put out by the ministry of Finance and ministry of Minerals and Petroleum Resources.
The reduction of petrol prices by R3.00 through the reduction of the petrol levy is a positive step towards alleviating the negative impact of the international energy crisis caused by the US and Israeli war against Iran, among other acts of imperialism.
If this intervention were not implemented, the working class would have been left in even greater economic distress than it already is. Consequently, as the SACP, we view this intervention positively.
Important as it is, however, this minimal tax cushion does not save the working class from the price increase in its totality. The working class will still have the burden to pay more from their diminishing income and social welfare provisions. The duration of this relief is announced as only one month long which still means the energy crisis is unpredictable and makes the lives of the people all the more precarious.
The national energy system is further constrained by the neoliberal model followed by South Africa which has reduced by 50 percent over the last five years our capacity for oil refinery, leading to greater exposure to risk of fuel shortages and dependence on direct imports. This challenge requires a sustained and state driven strategy to ensure protection of our people and our economy from these shocks.
The SACP reiterates its position that, in the medium term, the government should pursue a more closely aligned cooperation and relationship with the state of Iran to ensure a more sustainable solution to the national energy needs, including fuel requirements. At the same time, the intra-Africa cooperation strategy with African oil producing countries is key to minimising dependence in the longer term as well as mitigating the risks associated with oil markets farther from the continent.
The SACP calls for a comprehensive approach to address these concerns based on state intervention and state investment.
ISSUED
BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY
FOUNDED IN 1921 AS THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SOUTH AFRICA.
Media, Communications & Information Department | MCID
________
Electoral Commission unveils new logo
01 Apr 2026
Electoral Commission’s new logo comes alive ahead of municipal elections: “Get Up. Show Up. Vote”
The Electoral Commission today officially unveiled the identity (logo) and tagline for the 2026/27 Local Government Elections, marking a significant step in its preparations for the upcoming elections.
Every election carries its own story and identity. The 2026/27 elections logo and tagline represent a forward-looking, voter-centric democracy that reflects the aspirations of South Africans and drives greater youth participation, while reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to credible and accessible elections.
The launch signals that the Commission’s readiness to deliver the elections is at an advanced stage. The call-to-action tagline, “Get Up. Show Up. Vote” is anchored in the belief that South Africa fundamentally care about their families, communities, and livelihoods the future of the country. The logo and tagline will be embedded across all election materials and platforms.
Speaking at the unveiling event, IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya said the three-part call to action meets people where they are while inviting them to be part of something bigger than themselves.
“This logo represents inclusive civic activism, shared patriotism, and national pride. It does not lecture, It does not demand, and it does not overcomplicate. It evokes a strong emotional resonance and inspires a collective sense of South African optimism. Anchored in this optimism, the logo will come to life during the Local Government Elections as a shared national asset belonging to all South Africans,” Commissioner Moepya.
The Electoral Commission also announced the launch of its podcast channel, a platform designed to enhance transparency, expand access to information, and strengthen civic education. The podcast will go live on 8 April 2026.
Additionally, “Beats for My Peeps” is a cutting-edge, limited edutainment reality series designed to inspire young South Africans to register, vote, and recognise the power of their voice in shaping our democracy. It brings together digital creators, music artists, both established and emerging, and dynamic IEC representatives to create something truly fresh: a youth-driven television experience where democracy meets culture. Together, they unpack myths, challenge disillusionment, and produce original tracks that motivate young people to show up and shape their communities in the upcoming Local Government Elections. The show is set to air on SABC 1 in May 2026.
The Chairperson urged all stakeholders to support the Commission’s efforts, emphasising that the success of the electoral process depends on strong partnerships.
“We call on all stakeholders to work with us in strengthening our democracy. This can only be achieved through collaboration with key partners, including political parties, government agencies, and civil society organisations,” said Commissioner Moepya.
The next key milestone is the launch of the national campaign on 27 May 2026, followed by the first voter registration weekend on 20–21 June, aimed at encouraging more South Africans to register on the voters’ roll.
The Electoral Commission urges all voters to use the online platform to check and update their registration details, including their residential address, to ensure they are correctly registered and able to vote at the appropriate voting station. This will help ensure a smooth and efficient voting process on election day. Visit: Registertovote.elections.org.za
For media queries: Please contact Kate Bapela on 082 600 6386
For media interviews: Email requests to spokes...@elections.org.za
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/IECSouthAfrika
Instagram: www.instagram.com/IECSouthAfrica
X (formerly Twitter): @IECSouthAfrica
TikTok: @IECSouthAfrica
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/IECSouthAfrica
Website: www.elections.org.za
WhatsApp “Hi” to 060 088 00 00
Issued by Independent Electoral Commission
__________________
Police suspends Captain for defrauding SAPS PSS of millions
01 Apr 2026
The
South African Police Service(SAPS) has suspended a Captain attached to the Protection Security Services(PSS) after an internal investigation uncovered discrepancies and suspicious transactions within the division.
The member is attached to the finance section of the Protection and Security Service(PSS) and allegedly used his access to the finance system to withdraw monies running into millions.
An investigation has uncovered that he manipulated the system to book out cash for himself under the disguise that the money was meant for travelling expenses for close protectors attached to the Presidential Protection Services(PPS).
Further investigations uncovered that the money was not received by the close protectors but booked out in lump sum cash amounts by the member.
Following a lengthy investigation, a case of fraud was registered at the Sunnyside police station and an internal departmental investigation has led to his suspension.
The National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola has applauded the Financial Management Division for identifying and uprooting criminality within our ranks and has assigned the SAPS anti-corruption unit to investigate the matter.
The SAPS takes this opportunity to assure the nation that it has stringent measures in place to ensure taxpayers monies are utilized in service to the nation and that the SAPS will not tolerate fraud and corruption within its rank. No close protector attached to the President, Deputy President, Ministers or Deputy Ministers are implicated in this case.
Media
enquiries:
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe
Cell: 082 040 8808
Issued by South African Police Service
International-Solidarity
Yaoundé’s thin harvest: WTO ministers meeting delivers little gains for Africa
2 April, 2026
The World Trade Organization (WTO)’s 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon, 26-30 March ended with little to show for four days of intense bargaining. Ministers adopted two decisions on the integration of small economies into the multilateral trading system and on strengthening special and differential treatment in sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade.
WTO reform, e-commerce, fisheries subsidies, agriculture, and the least-developed countries package was deferred back to Geneva, Switzerland, for further work.
The outcome disappointed trade unions and civil society organizations, who had their own parallel meetings, and hoped that the meeting would deliver real progress on long-standing development concerns. Instead, it exposed sharp differences over policy space for developing countries, the future of digital trade, and the balance between multilateral interests and national sovereignty.
Deadlock over digital duties
The most visible stalemate concerned the long-standing moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions. The moratorium, in place since 1998, prevents members from taxing cross-border digital products such as software, music or e-books. Traditionally renewed every two years, the moratorium lapsed after ministers, who are the WTO’s highest decision-making body, failed to agree on an extension.
The United States initially pushed for a permanent ban, later offering a five-year renewal. Brazil insisted on sticking to the two-year norm, arguing that a longer freeze would limit developing countries’ ability to generate revenue and shape digital policy. The related moratorium on non-violation and situation complaints under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement also expired without renewal.
Trade unions including ITUC, IndustriALL Global Union, Public Services International, and African civil society organisations including the Africa Trade Network, viewed the failure as a reflection of deeper imbalances in the WTO frameworks. Most argued that a permanent or extended moratorium would disproportionately benefit large digital exporters while limiting options in economies still building their digital infrastructure.
Missed opportunity for agriculture
Agriculture, a priority for African and other developing members, again yielded no concrete advances. No decisions were reached on domestic support, market access, public food security or the special safeguard mechanism. The long-standing demands of the Cotton-4 countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali) on subsidies also went unaddressed. The United States had blocked progress on agriculture earlier in the conference, calling for a fundamental reset of the negotiations.
Another flashpoint was on the proposed incorporation of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement into the WTO rulebook. Trade unions and civil society warned that formal adoption risked undermining the consensus-based nature of the organisation.
Trade union and civil society representatives pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area Investment Protocol as a more suitable regional framework, arguing that it avoids adversarial international arbitration and better protects domestic investors.
Paule-France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub Saharan Africa said the meeting is a missed opportunity to expand industrial policy space for decent job creation, particularly for Africa’s youthful population in line with the Marrakech Agreement which established the WTO.
“Fairer and more equitable trade rules that create jobs and prioritize African workers and communities are needed as pathways going forward,” she said.
____________________________
In Cameroon, waste is turning into jobs and dignity
3 April 2026
In Yaoundé, a scrap metal recycling scheme has helped to clean up an urban site, generate income and improve working conditions for more than 150 people. This initiative illustrates a wider transformation of the waste sector towards greater formalisation, sustainability and decent work.
YAOUNDÉ (ILO News) – More than 840 tonnes of scrap metal have been collected, an urban site that had been in a state of disrepair for over a decade has been cleaned up, and more than 150 workers have been able to carry out their work in safer and better-organised conditions, thanks to support provided by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Cameroon.
Beyond these results, this initiative demonstrates how formalisation can transform a sector long characterised by informality into a source of decent jobs and economic opportunities.
Before the operation, dozens of disused buses were scattered across the site, illustrating the sheer volume of scrap metal that had accumulated.
These advances were made possible by the project “Formalisation of the ferrous waste collection and recycling sector to promote decent work and environmental sustainability”, implemented by the ILO.
The dismantling of 75 end-of-life vehicles, including buses and minibuses, marked a significant milestone in this transformation. Organised in collaboration with the National Union of Scrap Metal Workers (SYNAFSEC), the operation mobilised four teams of workers over a two-week period, generating nearly 30 million CFA francs.
But for the workers, the change is about more than just figures.
“Before, we used to get injured a lot and sometimes we’d be off work for several days. Now, with protective equipment, we can handle scrap metal without getting hurt, work every day and earn a living. We’re protected and feel more comfortable in our work,” explains a worker at the site.
These improvements are the result of targeted support. Thanks to the project supported by the International Labour Organization, workers have been trained, provided with protective equipment and made aware of occupational health and safety standards. On the ground, these measures have been put into practice, demonstrating that better work organisation can go hand in hand with increased productivity and improved incomes.
Beyond this one-off intervention, an entire sector is evolving. Historically characterised by a high level of informality, the ferrous waste sector in Cameroon is gradually becoming more structured, with better-organised stakeholders, safer practices and greater recognition for workers.
This transformation is now being reinforced by a major reform: the establishment of a national digital platform, the National Waste Exchange (BND), for traceability. From now on, all waste-related transactions (production, transport, recycling and recovery) must be recorded via a single digital platform, the Traceability Manifest, using a unique identifier and a QR code that enables real-time tracking.
This change improves transparency, secures transactions and facilitates the gradual integration of stakeholders into the formal economy. It also helps to better organise the value chain by connecting producers, collectors and recyclers.
A worker uses a blowtorch to cut scrap metal, wearing personal protective equipment provided as part of the project supported by the ILO.
“What we are seeing in Cameroon is a tangible transformation in which formalisation, the green transition and digitalisation reinforce one another. By supporting both workers on the ground and structural reforms, the ILO is helping to build a more inclusive, safer and more sustainable sector,” emphasises Claude Yao Kouame, Director of the International Labour Organization’s Country Office for Cameroon, São Tomé and Príncipe and Equatorial Guinea.
The International Labour Organization’s approach is based on its mandate to promote decent work, supporting the transition from the informal to the formal economy. Through this project, it has mobilised its expertise in social dialogue, enterprise development, social protection and working conditions to support a sustainable transformation of the sector.
The impact is multifaceted: improved working conditions, income generation, environmental remediation and waste recovery within a circular economy framework.
The Cameroonian experience thus demonstrates that waste can become a resource, not only for the environment, but also for employment and social justice. By making activities visible and strengthening the capacities of stakeholders, formalisation paves the way for more stable and inclusive opportunities.
In Yaoundé, the results are already tangible. And they illustrate a broader reality: when properly supported, the green and digital transitions can create more secure jobs, strengthen workers’ rights and help build a fairer and more sustainable economy for everyone.
Following the intervention, the site was cleaned up and cleared of waste, demonstrating the tangible results of the operation supported by the ILO.
More information
The project entitled ‘Formalisation of the ferrous waste collection and recycling sector to promote decent work and environmental sustainability’ is funded by the Regular Budget Supplementary Account (RBSA), a mechanism based on unearmarked voluntary contributions provided to the ILO by development partners.
______________________________
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