Taking COSATU Today Forward, 1 December 2025 #HappyBirthdayCOSATU #Cosatu40 #Cosatu40thAnniversary
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY #HappyBirthdayCOSATU! #COSATU scheduled to hold #CosatuGolfDay at Johannesburg Country Club, Woodmead on December 4 #Cosatu40 #VioletSeboniBrigade #Cosatu40thAnniversary #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
1 December 2025
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
Organize at every workplace and demand respect for labour rights Now!
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- COSATU presented its submission on the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill to Parliament
- Swinging for Dignity: COSATU and President Ramaphosa Tee Off for a Cause
- Applications for media accreditation to cover COSATU 40th Anniversary rally officially opened
- South Africa
- NEHAWU congratulates COSATU on its 40th anniversary
- SACP message of heartfelt condolences to family of South African liberation stalwart Comrade Sunny Singh
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- International Relations and Cooperation on commemoration of 48th United Nations International Day of Solidarity the Palestinian people
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
COSATU presented its submission on the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill to Parliament
Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 28 November 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) presented its submission on the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement’s Division of Revenue Amendment (DORA) Bill allocating additional funding to provincial and local government to Parliament’s Standing Committee: Appropriations today.
COSATU remains deeply concerned with government’s overall neo-liberal approach to the Budget. Workers have borne the brunt of austerity cuts to frontline public services that the working class and economy depend upon. We are extremely distressed by the state of local government where mismanagement, corruption, underfunding and failures to collect rates have seen workers unpaid and basic services deteriorate.
Whilst we do not believe that the DORA Bill goes far enough to ensure that public services are sufficiently resourced or that local government is set on the path to recovery, there are positive supplementary allocations allocated by the African National Congress led government that COSATU welcomes, in particular:
- R454 million to repair schools damaged by natural disasters in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
- R150 million for road repairs in the Eastern Cape and R303 million for public transport eThekwini.
- R72 million for the National Health Insurance Indirect Grant and revitalising health facilities as well as R86 million for building hospitals and clinics in the Western Cape, Free State and Limpopo.
- R2.06 billion to boost municipal electricity and water services in the metros and R496 million to repair municipal infrastructure damaged by natural disasters in the Eastern Cape.
- R450 million to expand Public Employment Stimulus programmes in the metros.
The state of local government and the increasing number of dysfunctional municipalities is extremely alarming. Whilst appreciating initial interventions to stabilise these municipalities, they are not enough given the extent of the crises facing workers and local communities. More must be done and much faster to turn local government around, in particular to ensure municipal staff are paid, municipal debt is collected, basic services are restored and infrastructure maintained.
COSATU will continue to engage government on a much bolder, more aggressive set of interventions to be included in the 2026/27 Budget to rebuild public and municipal services, stimulate inclusive economic growth, slash unemployment, and tackle poverty, inequality, crime and corruption. Investments in public and municipal services must be viewed as a necessary investment in economic growth and decent work.
Issued by COSATU
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Swinging for Dignity: COSATU and President Ramaphosa Tee Off for a Cause
Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 24 November 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is thrilled to announce its second annual Charity Golf Challenge, an inspiring event where labour, business and government unite on the green for a great cause. Members of the media are warmly invited to attend and cover this unique blend of sport, leadership and social impact.
This flagship initiative is more than a Corporate Social Investment project — it is a powerful demonstration of COSATU’s unwavering commitment to social justice and restoring dignity in communities beyond the workplace.
In a true celebration of Ubuntu, President Cyril Ramaphosa will join COSATU leaders, government departments and business partners on the golf course to help raise funds for its activities, school shoes and sanitary packs for underprivileged learners. Every swing will contribute to changing a child’s school experience and supporting their confidence and wellbeing.
Join us for a remarkable day of purpose-driven play:
COSATU Charity Golf Challenge
- Date: Thursday, 04 December 2025
- Presidential Tee off: 10:40
- Participants Tee off: 11:00 (Shotgun Start)
- Venue: Country Club Johannesburg (CCJ Woodmead)
The challenge will be followed by an elegant Gala Dinner at 18.30, where the day’s achievements will be celebrated and partners honoured.
Members of the media wishing to attend are invited to send their details to non...@cosatu.org.za
Issued by COSATU
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Applications for media accreditation to cover COSATU 40th Anniversary rally officially opened
Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson,10 November 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) invites all members of the media to apply for accreditation to attend and cover the Federation’s historic 40th Anniversary rally. This momentous event is scheduled to take place on 6 December at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto.
COSATU was launched on 1 December 1985, at the height of the struggle against apartheid. Its formation brought together 33 competing unions and federations that were opposed to apartheid but committed to a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa.
Alliance partners, local and international guests have been invited to celebrate 40 years of this vibrant movement advancing, defending and protecting the interests and rights of workers and the working class in South Africa and beyond.
Applications for accreditation may be submitted to mam...@cosatu.org.za or non...@cosatu.org.za with the following details:
Name:
Surname:
ID number:
Media House/Address:
Contact number/email:
Alternatively, an application form can be completed via this link:
COSATU 40th Anniversary Media Accreditation Application Form – Fill out form
Issued by COSATU
Zanele Sabela (National Spokesperson)
Mobile: 079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639
Email: zan...@cosatu.org.za
NEHAWU congratulates COSATU on its 40th anniversary
Zola Saphetha, NEHAWU General Secretary, November 30, 2025
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] takes this opportunity to congratulate its federation, the Congress of South African Trade Unions [COSATU] on the historic milestone of its 40th anniversary. COSATU was formed on the 01st December 1985.
The formation of COSATU was a culmination of the hard-work done by its predecessor, the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU), a class orientated and revolutionary trade union movement under the banner of the World Federation of Trade Unions [WFTU]. SACTU played a leading role in WFTU.
SACTU laid a firm foundation for a tradition of progressive trade unionism. It emphasised the need to build strong shop floor structures. It is also emphasised the dialectical connection between the racial oppression as a result of apartheid and economic exploitation resulting from the barbaric capitalist system.
The birth of COSATU was also part of a larger context of political developments in the country at that time, which were ushered in by the 1973 Durban strike, which marked the defiant re-emergence of the trade union movement in the 1970s, state of emergency and ultimately the consolidation of trade unions located in the congress movement traditions.
It is no coincidence that this historic 40th anniversary of COSATU takes place exactly in the same year, when progressives in the trade union movement have recently commemorated the 80th anniversary of WFTU and also the 70th anniversary of SACTU.
Indeed, since its formation, COSATU has grown from strength to strength and has been a shield and spear of workers and the broader working-class. COSATU has had an impeccable track record of waging a relentless struggle for workers and the class in order to improve their working conditions whilst improving their economic and social welfare. In the 40 years of its existence, COSATU has been a fighting and campaigning federation that places the interests of workers and the working-class at the centre.
This historic milestone is marked at a time when the world is confronted by difficult challenges. Principal among these is the complete failure of the capitalist system in responding to challenges facing humanity and the working class has had to endure miseries and suffocation brought about by the failures of the inhumane system of capitalism.
The 40th anniversary takes place at the time when our revolution is regressing as a result of the convergence of the neoliberalism under the disguise of the Government of National Unity that is deepening the neo-liberal trajectory based on a three-prong programme, namely: austerity, so-called structural reforms pertaining to the public infrastructural network industries and labour reforms.
Furthermore, the anniversary occurs when our country continues to languish in socioeconomic stagnation as a result of pursuing a neoliberal economic trajectory for the past three decades. Indeed, the pursuance of the neoliberal economic trajectory has fostered the current crisis of high unemployment, inequality and extreme poverty that confronts millions of our people.
Equally, the anniversary follows against a backdrop of a vicious and relentless onslaught on collective bargaining by state and employers. Employers are going out of their way to reverse the hard won gains of workers. The onslaught is about undermining collective bargaining which did not come on a silver platter but through the blood and sweat of workers.
For us as NEHAWU, it’s important that COSATU remains a fighting, militant and campaigning federation that is firm in rejecting neoliberalism and strongly opposes government austerity measures, dismantling and privatization in the public service and other sectors and policies that weaken labour rights.
As we mark the 40th anniversary, COSATU must recommit itself to the principles of class struggle and international solidarity and reaffirming its loyalty to this great internationalist tradition as well as recommitting itself to building a militant, class-oriented trade union movement capable of confronting the global offensive of capitalism and imperialism following in the line of SACTU.
Indeed, the anniversary presents an opportunity for COSATU to thoroughly reflect on the challenges facing the working-class and bring about concrete proposals on how the left-axis should reposition the socialist programme in the face of stagnation of the National Democratic Revolution.
Lastly, the anniversary presents COSATU with an opportunity to thorough and robustly reflect on how to strengthen the ability of COSATU to be a militant, fighting and a campaigning federation for workers’ demands in all sectors and in the struggles for the working class in general. Our Federation must remain unwavering in its pursuit of waging a relentless struggle in defence of workers and the working-class. Workers need COSATU now more than ever to defend their gains.
Happy 40th Anniversary!
Long Live COSATU!
END
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat.
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SACP message of heartfelt condolences to family of South African liberation stalwart Comrade Sunny Singh
Mbulelo Mandlana, SACP Head of Media, Communications and Information, 29 November 2025
The South African Communist Party (SACP) conveys its message of heartfelt condolences to the family of South African liberation stalwart, Comrade Sunny Girja Singh (86), who served the freedom-loving people of our country selflessly and diligently throughout his revolutionary life.
The SACP also expresses its condolences to the African National Congress (ANC), the uMkhonto we Sizwe Liberation War Veterans, the entire liberation movement and the people of South Africa for the loss.
From an early age, Comrade Singh became conscious of the atrocities of the apartheid system and took the decision to actively participate in the struggle against the racist system by joining the Natal Indian Congress at the age of 20. Thereafter, in 1962, Comrade Singh joined the joint SACP-ANC military wing, Umkhonto weSizwe (MK), following its launch in December 1961.
Following his dedicated revolutionary work, Comrade Singh was arrested, and at the age of 25 in 1963 was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, which he served on Robben Island, where the apartheid regime isolated him and his fellow comrades, where they endured harsh conditions. Notwithstanding these hardships, Comrade Singh never swayed from the struggle for justice.
Following his release after serving his entire prison term, the apartheid regime forced Comrade Singh to exile in 1976. He took exile as a continuation of the struggle, despite facing practical challenges. He trained in guerilla warfare, serving in various leadership roles in the MK in various parts of the African continent, including Mozambique, Angola, and Zambia, and was an active member in Operation Vula, one of the various secret projects for the anti- apartheid liberation struggle.
An internationalist par excellence, Comrade Singh made sterling contributions in opening the first official ANC mission in the Netherlands and represented the ANC at important international forums.
Neither the 10 years spent imprisoned in Robben Island nor the tough life in exile broke his revolutionary spirit. Instead, he got stronger both in ideological analysis and revolutionary zeal and consequently was able to contribute meaningfully towards the dislodging of the apartheid regime and ushering in a free and democratic South Africa. Passionate about political education, upon his return to South Africa in 1991, he contributed to the education of the youth, laying an important base towards Codesa talks which would later influence the shape of the new constitution.
In paying tribute to Comrade Singh, the SACP calls upon the working class and all justice loving people of our country to unite and close ranks against imperialism, defend South Africa’s national sovereignty and right to self-determination. The SACP makes the further call for the reinvigoration of regular political education in our progressive forces to empower the masses of our country on revolutionary class consciousness in order to drive the national democratic revolution towards its logical conclusion.
Hamba Kahle Mkhonto!
ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY,
FOUNDED IN 1921 AS THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SOUTH AFRICA.
Media, Communications & Information Department | MCID
International-Solidarity
International Relations and Cooperation on commemoration of 48th United Nations International Day of Solidarity the Palestinian people
27 Nov 2025
Commemoration of the 48th United Nations International Day of Solidarity the Palestinian people and 30 years of diplomatic relations with Palestine
The South African Government joins the international community in commemorating the 48th United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and renews its shared commitment to achieve a just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine.
This year, the 48th United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People coincides with the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of South Africa and the State of Palestine. South Africa and Palestine continue to share fraternal ties of solidarity and cooperation that are based on upholding international law, while together we are working towards creating a better life for our people, our regions, and the world.
In this regard, on 28 November 2025, HE Paul Mashatile, Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, will participate in the commemorative event, supported by the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Thandi Moraka.
The quest for Palestinian self-determination and statehood remains unresolved after 75 years and remains at the core of ensuring lasting peace and prosperity in the Middle East. In this regard, this occasion provides us with a crucial opportunity to reflect and take stock of the plight of the Palestinian people and to chart a way forward.
On this day, South Africa once again calls on Israel to realise that the only way to achieve peace is the cessation of its illegal occupation of Palestine and compliance with its obligations under international law, including adherence to the various United Nations resolutions through the decades in this matter. South Africa remains resolute in its commitment to continue strengthening the bonds of long-standing solidarity, friendship, and cooperation with Palestine, and calls upon the international community to tirelessly work for the attainment of peace and to provide strong humanitarian, economic and political support to the Palestinians.
In keeping with South Africa’s long-term and principled support for the Palestinian people, the Government of South Africa remains committed to supporting initiatives aimed at refocusing the international agenda on Palestine and reviving a genuine Middle East peace process that places Palestinian agency at its core.
In the context of the current genocide underway in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and in Gaza in particular, South Africa reiterates its call for the immediate implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan, including adherence by Israel to a permanent cease-fire, the provision of unimpeded humanitarian aid into Gaza through UN and other reputable humanitarian agencies, the withdrawal of Israeli Occupation Forces to the border with Egypt, and for consultations with the Palestinian authorities on the way forward in terms of reconstruction and Palestine’s future governance.
South Africa calls on all UN member states as Third Party states to ensure that they adhere to their international obligations not to engage in any actions that would sustain the illegal occupation or the current genocide in Palestine. It is the duty of the international community to work tirelessly in assisting the Palestinian people to achieve their aspirations of freedom, justice and statehood.
Issued by Department of International Relations and Cooperation
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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